What is periodontitis?
Periodontists is a multi factorial, inflammatory diseases associated with dysbiotic microbial dental biofilms and characterised by non-reversible progressive periodontal tissue destruction. It manifests through: CAL, radiographically assessed alveolar bone loss, presence of periodontal pocketing, gingival bleeding and leads eventually to tooth loss.
What are the main points of the old, Non-specific Plaque Hypothesis?
Treatment: non-specific mechanical removal of total amount of plaque
What are the main points of the Specific Plaque hypothesis?
Treatment: targeting and elimination of specific microoganisms using antimicrobials
What are the main points of the ecological plaque hypothesis?
Treatment: prevention of dental caries, modification of micro-environment to prevent nourishment of pathogens
Explain, briefly, the Yellow, orange and red groups that were suggest by Dr. Socranky research of 1998. Please include the names of at least 3 different bacteria in all of the groups.
What is the microbial virulence?
Virulence is defined as the degree of pathogenicity of the ability of the organism to cause disease measured in experimental procedures.
Organism need to:
What is A. Actinomycetemcomitans?
A. Actinomycetemcomitans or AA is a gram negative anaerobe that is associated with localised aggressive periodontitis.
Able to produce high level os leukotoxins thus causes the lysis of PMNs.
It is equiped with adhesis and invasisn which means it can penetrate the tissue and attach to the space it has penetrated
What is P.Gingivalis?
P. Gingivalis is a gram negative anaerob that is associated with periodontits (around 79-90% of perio cases will have this bacteria)
Main cause of the inflammation to the tissue - release of endotoxin (name: P.Gingivalis LPS)
Contains invasins, adhesins and also collagenases which degrade connective tissue.
What are the main points of the Keystone Pathogen Hypothesis & Polymicrobial synergy and Dysbiosis Model?
Treatment: host modulation in adjunct to direct antimicrobial measures
What are inflammophilic bacteria?
Bacteria that are able to propagate using by-products of inflammation
What are the stages of the IMPEDE model
Stage 0 - gingival and periodontal health
Stage 1 - gingival inflammation
Stage 2 - Polymicobial emergence
Stage 3 - Inflammation - mediated dysbiosis - initial perio
Stage 4 - Late stage periodontitis
What is the consensus on how periodontal destruction actually occur?
It is widely believed that periodontal destruction occurs due to effects of the immune response and not directly due to bacteria. 80 immune response, 20 bacteria.
What is the aetiology of periodontitis?
What are MMPs?
Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a large family of calcium-dependent zinc-containing endopeptidases, which are responsible for the tissue remodeling and degradation of the extracellular matrix (ECM), including collagens, elastins, gelatin, matrix glycoproteins, and proteoglycan.
They are regulated IL-6 and IL- 8.
They are released by many cells like PMNs.
What causes bone resorption?
RANKL:OPG ratio: relative amount regulate the bone turn over
What is the importance of T helper cells in periodontitis?
They help to propagate the process of secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines and messengers
What is a risk factor?
Health risk factor are attributes, characteristics or exposures that increase the likelihood of a person developing a disease or health disorder.
What are some of the pre-disposing factors for periodontitis?
Any factor that result in retention of biofilm or prevents ts removal thus predisposing for disease progression.
E.g.:
Anatomical factors: root proximity, tooth malposition, concavities and furcation
Aquired/Iatrogenic factors: overhangs, open contacts and appliances
All this needs to happen in a susceptible host.
What are modifying or systemic factors?
They are factors that modify disease expression and may influence disease progression by altering host’s immune response
e.g. in periodontitis: smoking and diabetes
How does smoking increases the risk of periodontitis and by how much on average does it increase the instance of periodontitis according to latest studies?
The mechanisms:
1. Chronic reduction in blood flow and vascularity
2. Increase the prevelance of potential periodontal pathogens in the sulcus
3. Shift in neutrophil function towards destructive activities
4. Shift to a dysbiotic, pathogen enriched microbiome
5. Affects PMNs making them more aggrevated
6. Increase the number of aggravated T cells that produce inflammatory cytokines
It increases the risk of periodontitis by 85%!
Smoking cessation has beneficial effect on therapy outcomes and disease progression - this should be attempted for patient with nicotine dependence/
What are two useful statistics to give to a smoker patient in order to discourage them from smoking?
How does diabetes increases the risk of periodontitis and by how much on average does it increase the instance of periodontitis according to latest studies?
It increases the risk of periodontitis by 3x to 4x!
Multidisciplinary control and treatment of diabetes is ESSENTIAL to treatment of periodontitis.
What can be seen intraorally in a patient with diabetes and perio?
If you suspect undiagnosed or poorly controlled diabetes, refer to GP for further investigations or management
What is the relationship between diabetes and periodontitis?
There is a bi-directional relationship between diabetes and periodontitis, meaning improvement in diabetes improve periodontitis but also improvement in periodontitis improve diabetes!