Frontiers in Dentistry

Objectives: Pentraxin-3 (PTX3) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) are two of the most important inflammatory cytokines produced by cells in periodontal tissues. The present study aims to evaluate the levels of PTX3 and IL-6 in serum and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) in patients with generalized periodontitis stages II and III, grades A and B, and periodontal health individuals before and after scaling and root planing (SRP).

Materials and Methods: In this study, 22 patients with periodontitis (12 males and 10 females) and 22 periodontal health controls (11 males and 11 females) were selected. All patients underwent full-mouth SRP. Serum and GCF samples were collected before and one month after SRP. PTX3 and IL-6 levels in serum and GCF samples were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Data analysis was performed using Mann-Whitney U and Wilcoxon tests (P<0.05).

Results: Serum levels of PTX3 were significantly higher in the periodontitis group than the controls (P<0.05). GCF PTX3 levels and serum and GCF IL-6 levels were not significantly different between the groups. Furthermore, this study did not show any significant changes in the levels of these cytokines before and after SRP.

Conclusion: Among the studied cytokines and media, only serum PTX3 levels showed a significant difference between periodontitis patients and healthy controls and could serve as a diagnostic marker of periodontal inflammation. SRP did not affect the levels of these cytokines, suggesting that other inflammatory factors may be involved in disease process. However, additional longitudinal prospective studies are needed to confirm these results.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of laser etching, air bone particle abrasion and acid etching on shear bond strength between re-cast Nickel Chromium alloy and dental ceramics.

Materials and Methods: A master die was made according to ISO 9693; TR (11406). A total of 40 samples were fabricated with 50%w nickel-chromium alloy and 50%w previously casted nickel-chromium alloy. The samples were divided into four groups based on the surface treatment applied. Group 1 served as the untreated control, Group 2 underwent etching with 10% hydrochloric acid (HCl), Group 3 received surface treatment via air-borne particle abrasion, while Group 4 was conditioned using a pulsed Nd:YAG laser. Shear bond strength between ceramic and metal was tested using a universal testing machine and the mode of debonding was evaluated using scanning electron microscope. The obtained values were statistically analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Tukey’s HSD Post Hoc test.

Results: The mean values of shear bond strength for Group 1 was 22.69±2.63Mpa, Group 2 was 27.05±2.15Mpa, Group 3 was 34.46±2.46Mpa and Group 4 was 39.54±2.16Mpa. The difference among the groups was significant (P<0.001). Hence there was a statistical difference seen in shear bond strength between control and acid etching, air borne particle abrasion and laser etching.

Conclusion: Laser surface conditioning produced more surface roughness compared to acid etching and air bone particle abrasion on re-cast Nickel Chromium alloy which increased the shear bond strength markedly between recast nickel-chromium alloy and dental Ceramic.

Objectives: Despite the recent advances in orthodontic appliances, color change of elastomeric ligatures over time remains a problem causing patient dissatisfaction. This study aimed to assess the color stability of different types of orthodontic elastomeric ligatures in the oral environment.

Materials and Methods: This clinical trial was conducted on 67 patients. After applying the exclusion criteria, 11 participants were excluded, and 56 remained. Four different brands of elastomeric ligatures namely Ortho Technology, Ortho Organizers, American Orthodontics, and SIA were randomly used in the four quadrants of each patient (n=14 from each brand). Discoloration of ligatures was scored in the oral cavity by orthodontists and patients on the day of placement (T0) and 28 days later (T1). Photography and CIE L*a*b* color space were used to assess the color change (∆E). Data were analyzed by the Kruskal-Wallis and Bonferroni tests.

Results: All brands showed discoloration. The highest ∆E was identified in SIA and Ortho Technology, while the lowest was recorded in Ortho Organizers. The lowest ∆b (yellowness) and the greatest reduction in L* (lightness) and ∆a (redness) were observed in Ortho Organizers. According to the opinion of patients and orthodontists at T0 and T1, SIA was the least visible followed by Ortho Technology. No significant difference was found between orthodontists and patients at T0 and T1 regarding the visibility of ligatures (P>0.05).

Conclusion: After 28 days, all brands of elastomeric ligatures showed considerable discoloration. Ortho Organizers showed the highest color stability.

Rhabdomyosarcoma is a rare soft tissue malignant neoplasm with striated muscle differentiation often found in the head and neck region. In our case a 33-year-old man presented with a bulging mass near his right mandibular second molar tooth, identified as a unilocular destructive lesion on an X-ray. An incisional biopsy confirmed rhabdomyosarcoma, leading to a hemi-mandibulectomy. Histopathologic findings showed spindle and rhabdoid cells with positive immunoreactivity to Desmin, myogenin and myoD1. In conclusion, it is crucial to differentiate rhabdomyosarcoma from other more common intraosseous malignancies, and using Desmin staining as part of the initial immunohistochemical panel can aid in the diagnosis process.