Muzammil Moin Ahmed

Background: While much research is focused on assessing the knowledge and attitudes of periodontal patients and the general population, no study addressed the prevalence of periodontal misconceptions. Hence, the research aimed to assess misconceptions regarding periodontal diseases and their treatment among a diverse population of various nationalities. Methods: The research adopted a quantitative, descriptive, and cross-sectional approach, employing a 16-item, structured, closed-ended, validated questionnaire with perspective statements to evaluate periodontal misconceptions. The periodontal misconceptions assessment results were compared across age groups, genders, nationalities, and misconception categories. Results: Periodontal misconception assessment yielded an overall misconception ratio of 60.34% among 515 individuals of various ages, genders, nationalities, and educational backgrounds. The most prevalent misconception is that ageing leads to tooth loss (91.7%), then that periodontal diseases do not occur if oral hygiene is good (85.4%) and teeth must be brushed after every meal (85.3%). Other highly prevalent misconceptions are that periodontal treatment should not be performed during pregnancy (80.4%), and periodontal diseases can be treated solely through medication (75.7%). There was minimal misconception regarding the prevalence of periodontal diseases across all age groups, not confined to the elderly (20.7%). The mean misconception scores demonstrated no significant differences between age groups and genders. Decrease in misconceptions correlated with higher educational qualifications. Turks (16 ± 0) demonstrated the most substantial periodontal misconceptions, followed by Yemenis (13 ± 0.11), Europeans (12.13 ± 2.13), Filipinos (12.11 ± 3.69), and Bangladeshis (12.8 ± 6.62). The British (5.54 ± 2.46) exhibited the fewest misconceptions, followed by Australians (7 ± 1.41) and Indians (7.99 ± 3.85). Conclusion: The prevalence of periodontal misconceptions is high among the general public, regardless of age and gender. There exists disparity among various educational groups and nationalities, with Turks exhibiting the highest level of misconceptions, followed by Yemenis, Europeans, Filipinos, and Bangladeshis. In contrast, the British showed fewer misconceptions, followed by Australians and Indians. Mapping these misconceptions across nationalities emphasises the need to launch culturally tailored public health campaigns to improve preventive practises, reduce healthcare costs, and enhance overall population well-being.

The lack of exploration into how joint hypermobility may impact periodontal instrumentation for treating periodontal diseases may remain a significant indirect risk to public health, with both conditions continuing to impose a burden on the public healthcare system. The primary aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of joint hypermobility among young adults and its impact on clinical periodontal instrumentation performance among dental hygiene students. The research employed a retrograde cross-sectional approach with the inclusion of dental hygiene students. By combining Beighton criteria 1 and 2 with an additional third criterion, a clinical examination was able to detect joint hypermobility. The occurrence of joint hypermobility was correlated with clinical performance through performance record reviews. The research data underwent statistical comparisons and linear regression analysis. A total of 77 young adults from dental hygiene school participated, and nearly half (46.6%, n = 36) of them experienced joint hypermobility. Participants scoring positive on criterion 1 are 37.7% (n = 29), with 46.8% (n = 36) meeting both criterions 2 and 3. A significant variance at 0.000 ( P < .05) was found between the participants who were positive for criterion 1 and those who were negative; the former group had a mean clinical performance score of 63.72 ± 15.86 on the clinical performance assessments, while the latter group had a mean performance score of 88.75 ± 14.63. Similarly, participants who scored positive on both Criteria 2 and Criteria 3 had a lower mean performance score (61.50 ± 13.65 vs 94.98 ± 3.24, respectively) than those who scored negative. A remarkable degree of joint hypermobility was discerned in nearly half of the young adults. This first-ever study unveils the subpar clinical periodontal instrumentation performance in the joint hypermobility presence. This study cautiously recognizes the exquisite phenomenon of joint hypermobility as an intriguing barrier to effective delivery of periodontal care, with its influence on the motor skills of individuals and public health.

Volumetric changes associated with immediate implant placement and Bio-Oss collagen is observed. Hence, Thirty patients requiring single-tooth extraction and immediate implant placement in the anterior maxilla were randomly allocated into two groups: Group A (n=15) received immediate implants with Bio-Oss Collagen filling the gap and Group B (n=15) received immediate implants without grafting. Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans were obtained immediately post-operatively and at six months. Volumetric measurements were performed using three-dimensional image analysis software. Statistical analysis included paired and independent t-tests. Bio-Oss Collagen significantly reduced volumetric bone resorption following immediate implant placement, demonstrating superior preservation of peri-implant hard tissue dimensions compared to non-grafted sites.

Osseointegration and peri-implant bone regeneration are critical determinants of long-term dental implant success, yet achieving optimal outcomes remains challenging. Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP), enriched with autologous growth factors, has been proposed as an adjunctive biomaterial to enhance bone healing. In this randomized controlled clinical trial, 30 patients requiring single implants were allocated to PRP-coated (Group A) and non-PRP (Group B) groups. Group A demonstrated significantly higher implant stability quotient (ISQ) values and peri-implant bone density compared to controls at 3 months. Thus, we show that PRP application may effectively improve implant stability and peri-implant bone regeneration.

The quality of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) abstracts greatly impacts the way readers perceive interventional outcomes, influencing their scientific applicability. Recent data about the quality of periodontal RCT abstracts that have been published is lacking. Thus, the aim of this study is to assess the reporting quality of abstracts in RCTs published in periodontal journals in recent years. The study is descriptive and cross-sectional, surveying the abstracts of RCTs published in the Journal of Periodontology (JOP), Journal of Clinical Periodontology (JOCP), and Journal of Periodontal Research (JOPR) between 2018 and 2022. The assessment of reporting quality was performed employing the CONSORT criteria for abstracts of RCTs. The quantitative values for each item on the CONSORT checklist for all published RCT abstracts were derived by descriptive statistical techniques, including univariate analysis. Comparisons were drawn between the journals and the different variables included in the study. The investigation identified 176 RCTs (11.7%) out of a total of 1506 articles published in these three journals over a period of four years. The primary observation of this research is that the mean quality scores were a mere 52.36 ± 9.9 for all the published periodontal RCTs abstracts. JOCP obtained the highest quality scores (54.7 ± 10.5), followed by JOPR (52.4 ± 9.9) and JOP (49.1 ± 7.9). RCT abstracts from Europe had higher reporting quality, whereas those from Africa were the lowest. The trials carried out in mixed settings showed better quality in the reporting of abstracts compared to those conducted in university, private, or governmental settings. RCTs with more than six authors and statisticians involved showed higher quality scores. These results are not indicative of a substantial improvement when compared to previous years (2015–2018). Abstracts of RCTs reported are below par in the preeminent periodontology journals. There has been no discernible progress over the years, notably in terms of blinding, the randomization description, and the disclosure of potential harms.

Background: In an era wherein, persuasive evidence continues to witness the association between systemic and periodontal diseases, the absence of scientific data on dental professionals’ comprehension concerning the HIV infection and periodontal link is lamentably backward. Thus, the key objective of this research is to ascertain the extent of comprehension possessed by dentists and dental hygienists concerning periodontal implications and their management in HIV patients.Methods: It is a quantitative cross-sectional survey employing a descriptive approach focusing on a specific cohort of dental professionals. The study setting featured an online platform for the distribution of concealed, closed-ended, structured questionnaire. The data was gathered for four sections: six comprehension statements about periodontal manifestations in HIV patients; fifteen comprehension statements about HIV patients’ periodontal management; eight familiarity statements about HIV management; and two educational statements about HIV. The comparisons of comprehension scores were drawn between variables such as specialties, age groups, and genders.Results: The survey represented 468 dental professionals representing distinct dental specialties, with a mean age of 24.26 ± 7.53 years. The mean comprehension score for all groups of participants is 10.31 ± 9.34 (33.25%). The highest scores were recorded among those aged 31–40 (20.67 ± 8.31), followed by those aged 40+ (19.38 ± 9.39), 20–30 (9.53 ± 8.96), and under 20 (8.92 ± 8.57), at p < 0.001. The female participants (15.06 ± 12.2) exhibited substantially better scores in contrast to the male participants (8.74 ± 7.57). Periodontists (27.77 ± 3.08) comprehended most, then the oral medicine practitioners (25 ± 0). Dental hygiene students (5.52 ± 3.56) and hygienists (7.67 ± 9.72) comprehended the least. The scores for all four domains assessed were disappointingly low: knowledge about HIV-periodontal manifestations (2.81 ± 2.18), knowledge about management of periodontal diseases in HIV patients (3.73 ± 4.7), familiarity with periodontal care in HIV patients (2.87 ± 3.01), and education received about HIV and periodontal diseases (0.91 ± 0.66).Conclusion: Dental professionals are notably incomprehensive, unfamiliar, and lacking in expertise in the realm of periodontal facets of HIV. The periodontists and oral medicine practitioners showed a substantial amount of comprehension, while the dental hygiene students and dental hygienists presented a conspicuously inadequate level of comprehension. The study outcome could potentially serve as an invaluable instrument for self-assessment by dental professionals and educators. HIV/AIDS ought not to persist as an unspoken taboo or disregarded subject within the dental field, particularly in periodontics, but rather should receive prominence in dental schools and professional development programs.

The current body of research focuses primarily on three fundamental groups of interferons: alpha, beta, and gamma interferons. However, little attention is paid to another important group of interferons called lambda interferons (IFN-λs), which have demonstrated activity against periodontal pathogens, particularly viruses. These recently discovered interferon-lambdas provide a striking contrast to the periodontal pathogens, exerting impact both at the capacity of the immune system and the cell, thereby affecting a variety of inflammatory and response pathways. Thus, this review sheds light on role of interferon lambda in the development of periodontal disease and associated activities. In order to collect the information necessary for this review, an exhaustive search of the relevant literature was conducted. The review focused on the structure, regulatory mechanisms, and role of interferon lambda in medical and periodontal infections and diseases. The findings of our review indicated that IFN-λs have an effect on the immunological regulatory mechanisms of the host in relation to viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites; nevertheless, their primary role is antiviral, and they have little to no effect on the immune system's ability to fight bacteria. Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol.23 (Special Issue) 2024 p.S73-S78

Introduction: The intriguing link between periodontal disease severity and physical activity remains largely understudied, particularly in the Saudi Arabian population. Thus, the current research was intended to ascertain the effect of physical activity on the prevalence and indicators of periodontal diseases. Materials: The cross-sectional approach with convenience sampling was applied to the recruitment of 160 adult subjects attending gymnasiums, sports clubs, malls, primary health centres, and community dental health programs. Based on IPAQ scores, the participants were split into two distinct groups: a physically active group and a physically inactive group. The two study groups were compared with one another in terms of recorded parameters. The gathered data subsequently underwent statistical processing using SPSS 20.0. Results: Of the 160 subjects, 66.87% (n = 107) had gingivitis and 33.12% (n = 53) periodontitis. A lower mean PI (1.62±0.31) was observed in the physically active group compared to the physically inactive group (6.91±1.12). The physically active group had a mean BI of 19.01±4.53 and the inactive group 69.98±9.29. For physically active and inactive groups, mean PD measurements were 2.49±0.33 mm and 4.61±0.07 mm, respectively.Physically active individuals had a significantly lower mean CAL (2.98±0.88 mm) compared to the inactive group (5.37±1.02 mm). Parametric variances between groups are statistically significant (p<0.001). Conclusion: Insufficient engagement in physical activity has undeniably been identified as a risk factor for the development and severity of periodontal disease, marked by escalated indicators of gingivitis and periodontitis. The study findings unequivocally endorse the adoption of a consistent physical activity regimen as strategic initiatives to proactively address the incidence of inflammatory periodontal diseases. Many patients with different psychophysical characteristics seek periodontal therapy at dental clinics. This study alerts clinicians to the impact of physical inactivity in a wide-spectrum population and helps identify periodontal risk in sedentary patients. It also aids in treatment planning for these periodontally risky, physically inactive people. Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol.23 (Special Issue) 2024 p.S20-S25

This study aimed to evaluate the reporting quality of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) in periodontology. Three leading periodontology journals, the Journal of Periodontology (JOP), the Journal of Clinical Periodontology (JOCP), and the Journal of Periodontal Research (JOPR), were selected for this investigation. The RCTs were identified by manually searching for human trial articles published in these three journals. Two authors independently conducted the literature search, and a pre-piloted extraction sheet was used to screen the potential RCTs. The CONSORT checklist guidelines were employed to calculate the score value. Intra-examiner reliability was assessed by scoring a random sample of 10% of the papers in a second round conducted by the first examiner three months after the initial data collection. A search of abstracts published over a five-year period yielded 176 articles that reported RCTs, accounting for 11.7% of all articles published in the three journals. The highest number of RCTs was published in 2020, and more than half of the included RCTs (51%) originated from Europe. Many of the analyzed RCTs inadequately reported almost half of the items on the CONSORT checklist. Furthermore, univariate analysis revealed significant associations between certain factors and the overall CONSORT score, such as publication in JOP (p = 0.048), publication year of 2019 (p = 0.041) and 2021 (p = 0.042), first author from North America (p = 0.016), and RCTs with more than six authors (p = 0.042). Clinical trial research in periodontics has made significant progress in the past five years. However, there is room for improvement in adhering to the CONSORT guidelines.

Background: Mouth rinse agents reduce inflammation and microbial burden, improving periodontal clinical parameters. Yet, improper clinical use of these compounds might have several deleterious repercussions. Given the lack of research on the knowledge and application of antiplaque mouth rinse agents, this research was conducted. Methods: The research is an electronic survey wherein responses were gathered for ten items with predetermined answers in addition to covariate data. The questions were conceived to illuminate the level of knowledge possessed by dental professionals and their utilization pattern in periodontal practice. The data gathered underwent quantitative statistical analysis. Results: Participants in the study included 100 dental professionals from various disciplines, all of whom agreed that mouth rinses are a vital adjuvant in periodontal therapy. Most acknowledged being aware of the various mouth rinse agents, but their knowledge and application of mouth rinses were largely confined to chlorhexidine gluconate, with little consideration being given to alternative antiplaque agents. Conclusion: Little knowledge exists among dental professionals regarding mouth rinse agents and their appropriate application. Dental schools, clinical advisory organizations, and other establishments could educate dental professionals on the specific guidelines for utilizing antiplaque mouth rinses in a dental context, especially as an adjunct to periodontal therapy.