Few genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have been conducted for severe forms of periodontitis (stage III/IV grade C), and the number of known risk genes is scarce. To identify further genetic risk variants to improve the understanding of the disease aetiology, a GWAS meta-analysis in cases with a diagnosis at ≤35 years of age was performed.
Genotypes from German, Dutch and Spanish GWAS studies of III/IV-C periodontitis diagnosed at age ≤35 years were imputed using TopMed. After quality control, a meta-analysis was conducted on 8,666,460 variants in 1306 cases and 7817 controls with METAL. Variants were prioritized using FUMA for gene-based tests, functional annotation and a transcriptome-wide association study integrating eQTL data.
The study identified a novel genome-wide significant association in the FCER1G gene (p = 1.0 × 10-9 ), which was previously suggestively associated with III/IV-C periodontitis. Six additional genes showed suggestive association with p < 10-5 , including the known risk gene SIGLEC5. HMCN2 showed the second strongest association in this study (p = 6.1 × 10-8 ).
This study expands the set of known genetic loci for severe periodontitis with an age of onset ≤35 years. The putative functions ascribed to the associated genes highlight the significance of oral barrier tissue stability, wound healing and tissue regeneration in the aetiology of these periodontitis forms and suggest the importance of tissue regeneration in maintaining oral health.

OBJECTIVE: The correlation between crestal bone loss at teeth and probing pocket depth (PPD) has been established. Whether these findings can also be applied to implants is not known. The objective of this study was to determine the correlation between crestal bone loss and PPD at teeth and implants.
METHODS: Thirty-one periodontitis-susceptible patients were rehabilitated with fixed implant-supported single crowns and fixed partial dentures. Each patient was examined over a 5- to 20-year period in a 3- to 6-month strict recall program. At each session, periodontal clinical parameters were recorded at teeth and implants. In addition, standardized periapical radiographs were taken after superstructure insertion (baseline) and then at 1, 3, 5, 10, 15, and 20 years.
RESULTS: The survival rate of implants (94.0%) and teeth (97.3%) did not significantly differ in all patients after 20 years (P = .68). Almost all patients had a PPD ≥ 5 mm at implants and teeth throughout the observation period. The crestal bone loss at implants and teeth increased continuously, especially in patients with advanced periodontitis, without a correlation with PPD. A few patients (n = 5) had a PPD ≥ 5 mm and annual bone loss ≥ 0.2 mm at one implant, with a correlation between bone loss and PPD.
CONCLUSIONS: In healthy implants and teeth, moderate crestal bone loss is present without correlation with PPD. A few patients showed progressive crestal bone loss at only one implant, with a correlation with PPD.

The aim of this study was to describe the use patterns of antibiotics in periodontal therapy among Moroccan dentists.
It was a cross-sectional study. An online survey among 2440 registered dentists was conducted in public, private, and semi-public sectors in Morocco. Within the interrogated dentists, 255 answer the online survey. Data analysis was done by the laboratory of biostatistics-epidemiology of the Faculty of Medicine of Casablanca.
The antibiotics were prescribed for different pathologies. 26.8% of dentists prescribed antibiotics for gingivitis, 91.5% in case of ulcero-necrotizing gingivitis, 92.7% for aggressive periodontitis, 77% to chronic periodontitis patients, and 97.6% in the presence of periodontal abscess. Dentists prescribed penicillin to 37.3% of cases presenting ulcero-necrotizing gingivitis and 62.3% of patients presenting periodontal abscess. Cyclins are prescribed at a rate of 60% to aggressive periodontitis patients. The association of penicillin + metronidazole is prescribed to 37.3% of ulcero-necrotizing gingivitis patients, 47% of patients presenting aggressive periodontitis, 42.5% of chronic periodontitis patients, and 65.5% of cases presenting periodontal abscess.
There are major discrepancies among dentists in antibiotic prescription patterns. Some dentists prescribe antibiotics to patients with gingivitis or patients undergoing noninvasive oral procedures such as air polishing and scaling which is worrisome. Dentists are prescribing antibiotics when local treatment would have sufficed. Dentists also commonly prescribed antibiotics as an adjunct to mechanical therapy for the treatment of periodontal disease.
Systemic antibiotics are prescribed for different conditions according to variable protocols. The appropriateness of antibiotic prescription must be reassessed critically to improve antibiotic stewardship among dentists.
Résumé Objectif: Le but de cette étude était de décrire les modèles d\'utilisation des antibiotiques en thérapie parodontale chez les dentistes Marocains. Matériaux et méthodes: C\'était une étude transversale. Une enquête en ligne entre 2440 dentistes enregistrées a été menée dans des secteurs public, privé et semi-publique au Maroc. Dans les dentistes interrogés, 255 répondent à l\'enquête en ligne. L\'analyse des données a été effectuée par le laboratoire de biostatistique - épidémiologie de la Faculté de médecine de Casablanca. Résultats: Les antibiotiques ont été prescrits pour différentes pathologies. 26,8% des dentistes ont prescrit des antibiotiques pour la gingivite, 91,5% en cas de gingivite ulcéro-nécrotante, 92,7% pour la parodontite agressive, 77% aux patients atteints de parodontite chronique et 97,6% en présence d\'un abcès parodontal. Les dentistes ont prescrit la pénicilline à 37,3% des cas présentant une gingivite ulcérative 1A8Q7 et 62,3% des patients présentant un abcès parodontal. Les cyclins sont prescrits à un taux de 60% aux patients atteints de parodontite agressive. L\'association de la pénicilline + métronidazole est prescrite à 37,3% des patients atteints de gingivite ulcératisants, 47% des patients présentant une parodontite agressive, 42,5% des patients atteints de parodontite chronique et 65,5% des cas présentant un abcès parodontal. Discussion: Il y a des écarts majeurs chez les dentistes dans les modèles de prescription antibiotiques. Certains dentistes prescrivent des antibiotiques aux patients atteints de gingivite ou de patients subissant des procédures orales non invasives telles que le polissage et l\'échelle de l\'air qui sont inquiétantes. Les dentistes prescrivent des antibiotiques lorsque le traitement local aurait suffi. Les dentistes ont également couramment prescrit les antibiotiques comme complément à la thérapie mécanique pour le traitement des maladies parodontales. Mots-clés: Dentistes, parodontite, antimicrobiens systémiques.

OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to evaluate the local effect of antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) as adjunctive treatment for Grade C periodontitis in molars teeth.
METHODS: Thirty-eight molar teeth from 11 patients were included in this split-mouth randomized clinical trial. The teeth were randomly divided into two groups (n = 19 each) that were submitted to conventional scaling and root planing in addition to aPDT (test group) and to scaling and root planing in addition to aPDT simulation (control group). The following periodontal parameters were obtained prior to treatment (baseline) and at 3 months after the intervention: bleeding on probing, probing depth, gingival recession, clinical attachment level, and furcation level. A 5% significance level was adopted in the statistical analysis.
RESULTS: Both groups exhibited improvement in the clinical parameters (P < .001). However, the reductions in bleeding on probing and probing depth were greater in the test group (P < .001). There were no significant differences in the other clinical parameters between groups (P ≥ .130).
CONCLUSIONS: Molar teeth treated with aPDT and scaling and root planing showed superior clinical improvement compared to those submitted only to scaling and root planing. aPDT may be used as adjunctive treatment for Grade C periodontitis affecting molar teeth since it seems to improve the clinical response to conventional debridement.

This study aimed to compare insulin status and dysglycemia (prediabetes/diabetes) of patients with chronic (stage III, grade B) or aggressive periodontitis (stage III, grade C) to that of a healthy population.
Patients with chronic (CP, n = 16) or aggressive periodontitis (AP, n = 15) and periodontally healthy controls (n = 32) were recruited. Body mass index was calculated. Glycemia, plasma insulin, glycated hemoglobin, C-reactive protein, and lipid levels were measured in fasting. The Homeostasis Model Assessment was used to calculate the insulin sensitivity (HOMA-%S), the beta-cell function (HOMA-%B), and their hyperbolic product (HOMA-%BxS).
The CP group showed statistically significantly insulin resistance with a lower HOMA-%S (p = 0.0003) and a reduced HOMA-%BxS (p = 0.049) despite a higher insulin level (p = 0.01) vs the control group, even after BMI adjustment. There was also a trend to dysglycemia (prediabetes/diabetes) in the chronic group. In patients with AP, no abnormalities in insulin status were observed and glycemic levels were comparable with controls. Additionally, patients in both AP and CP groups presented significantly higher CRP levels compared to those of the control group (p = 0.02).
Patients with CP showed reduced insulin sensitivity, increased insulin levels but a reduced %BxS product and a trend to dysglycemia. These abnormalities were not observed in AP.

OBJECTIVE: The main aim of the study was to evaluate the systemic markers related to anemia in generalized aggressive periodontitis (GAgP) patients before and after phase I therapy.
METHODS: Based on the inclusion criteria, 15 patients with GAgP were allocated to two groups, group A (before phase I periodontal therapy) and group B (after phase I periodontal therapy). After 3 months, clinical parameters and hematological parameters were reevaluated.
RESULTS: The hematological parameters like hemoglobin (Hb) and red blood cell (RBC) counts were increased significantly after therapy in group B with a significant improvement in the plaque index score, gingival bleeding index score with a reduction of probing depth, and a gain in clinical attachment levels.
CONCLUSIONS: Within the limitation of this study, it could be concluded that GAgP was associated with reduced RBC parameters suggesting that it may tend toward anemia of chronic disease (ACD). Nonsurgical periodontal therapy (NSPT) not only reverses the periodontal health by reducing the inflammation but also improves the anemic status.
CONCLUSIONS: Based on several studies, it was concluded that chronic periodontitis is associated with ACD. This study results indicate that like chronic periodontitis, aggressive periodontitis is also associated with reduced RBC and Hb count suggesting the risk for ACD. So when a patient is diagnosed to have any chronic infectious disease that might lead to ACD, then it is mandatory to treat that particular disease in order to reduce the infection so as to reverse the anemic status of an individual.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare clinical, cytokine and microbiological responses after quadrant-based scaling and root planing (Q-SRP), full-mouth SRP (FM-SRP) and full-mouth disinfection (FMD) in patients with generalized aggressive periodontitis (GAgP), which is currently termed as generalized stage-III and grade-C periodontitis.
METHODS: Forty-two patients with GAgP were randomly assigned into groups as Q-SRP, FM-SRP or FMD with chlorhexidine. Clinical parameters were recorded, and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and subgingival plaque samples were collected at baseline, 3 and 6 months after treatment. GCF levels of interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-17 were analysed using ELISA. Quantities of six bacterial species were determined using qPCR.
RESULTS: Clinical parameters improved significantly in all groups at 3 and 6 months (p < 0.05). Percentage of sites with probing depth >6 mm was lower in the FMD than Q-SRP group at 3 and 6 months (p < 0.05). FMD showed significantly higher percentage of pocket closure compared with Q-SRP and FM-SRP at both 3 and 6 months after treatment (p < 0.05). The IL-1β levels decreased only in the FMD group (p < 0.05), whereas no changes were found in IL-17 levels in any group. The levels of five out of six bacterial species decreased at 3 and/or 6 months only in the FMD group (p < 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS: The FMD treatment appears to offer superior outcome than Q-SRP and could be the first choice for patients with GAgP.

OBJECTIVE: Previous studies have demonstrated an association between the IL10 promoter rs6667202 (C > A) single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and grade C, stage 3 or 4 periodontitis (Perio4C) in the Brazilian population, where the altered A allele was detected more frequently in these patients. However, no functional analysis of this variation has yet been performed. Thus, the objective of this preliminary study was to evaluate the functionality of rs6667202 in gingival fibroblasts (GFs) of individuals with Perio4C and with periodontal health (PH) stimulated with Aggregatibacter actinomycetencomitans protein extract (AaPE).
METHODS: Patients with PH and Perio4C were segregated according to their genotype (AA, AC, or CC), and a biopsy was performed to establish the culture of the GFs. After GFs exposure to AaPE at 5 µg/ml for 1.5 h, RNA was extracted to analyze IL10 expression by qPCR. Aliquots of the cell\'s supernatant were subjected to immunoenzymatic analysis (MAGpix) to detect interleukin-10 (IL-10).
RESULTS: In PH, the genotypes AA and AC are related to less expression of IL10 (p = 0.027 and p < 0.0001) and less production of IL-10 (p = 0.002 and p = 0.001), when compared to CC. In Perio4C, there was no statistical difference between the genotypes (p > 0.05), although a lower IL-10 expression and release compared with PH CC was seen (p = 0.033 and p < 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS: The rs6667202 SNP is functional in PH, as it decreases the expression and production of IL-10. In Perio4C, other factors may be masking its action by altering the IL-10\'s response.

UNASSIGNED: Conventional implants have great limitations in case of atrophic maxillary and mandibular ridges. Ultimately, patients who have severely atrophied jawbones paradoxically receive little or no treatment, as long as conventional implants are considered the device of first choice. Basal implants were developed with the goal to overcome the limitations of conventional implantology, primarily for atrophied ridges or inadequate bone with the protocol of immediate loading. However, studies regarding the rehabilitation followed by placement of screwable basal implants in atrophied ridges are limited. The purpose of the study was to conduct a prospective evaluation for the feasibility of placing strategic basal implants in clinical practice along with its merits and demerits.
UNASSIGNED: A prospective study was designed to evaluate the protocol of immediate functional loading using the technology of strategic basal implants® for fixed complete arch prostheses and segmental teeth prostheses. A minimal of 10 patients selected in the age group of 20-80 years were restored with strategic basal implants irrespective of the quality and quantity of cancellous/alveolar bone following immediate functional loading protocols.
UNASSIGNED: About 157 various designs of basal implants were placed in 10 patients, out of which four failed with the survival rate of 97.5% of basal implants.
UNASSIGNED: The new concepts laid by basal implantology eliminate all drawbacks of conventional implantology and should be used as an adjunct to improve the quality of life of our patients. The concept of strategic implantology is innovative but reliable technique for patients in need of permanent rehabilitation.

To identify loci associated with stages III/IV, grade C periodontitis (PIII/IV-C) through a genome-wide association study (GWAS).
441 Caucasian Spanish PIII/IV-C cases from the SEPA Network of Research Clinics and 1141 controls from the Banco Nacional de ADN were genotyped with \"Axiom Spain Biobank Array,\" which contains 757836 markers, including rare and low-frequency Spanish variants. The analysis of the individual association and subsequently the gene-level analysis with Sequence Kernel Association Test (SKAT) were carried out adjusting for age, sex and PC1 covariates. Pathway Analysis was additionally performed with Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) software on the top associated genes.
In the individual analyses, no genome-wide significant signals were detected. However, 8 SNPs of 8 loci reached suggestive evidence of association with PIII/IV-C, including FAT3 rs35709256, CSNK1G2 rs4807188, MYH13 rs2074872, CNTN2 rs116611488, ANTXR1 rs4854545, 8p23.2 rs78672540, ANGPT1 rs13439823 and PLEC rs11993287 (p < 5 × 10-6 ). SKAT analysis identified other interesting signals at CNTN2, FBXO44, AP1M2, RSPO4, KRI1, BPIFB1 and INMT, although their probability does not exceed the multiple-test correction. IPA indicated significant enrichment of pathways related to cAMP, IL-2, CD28, VDR/RXR and PI3K/Akt.  CONCLUSIONS: GWAS found no SNPs significantly associated with PIII/IV-C.