Osman Babayiğit

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate self-reported postoperative pain in patients undergoing free gingival graft (FGG) harvesting from the palatal mucosa during a 4-week healing period and to identify clinical parameters associated with pain perception.Methods: This was a prospective observational clinical study including 40 systemically healthy patients (18–65 years) scheduled for FGG surgery. Palatal mucosal thickness, graft dimensions, and donor site characteristics were measured. Pain intensity was recorded using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) on postoperative days 1, 3, 7, 14, 21, and 28. Analgesic consumption was documented. Statistical analyses included the Kruskal–Wallis, Mann–Whitney U, and Spearman’s correlation tests, as well as regression modeling (α = 0.05).Results: Pain intensity peaked on postoperative day 1 (VAS: mean 6.3 ± 1.2) and decreased progressively, reaching baseline by day 28. Regression analysis showed that greater graft thickness significantly increased pain scores (β = 3.165, p = .007), whereas higher palatal mucosal thickness was associated with reduced pain perception (β = –1.62, p < .001). Wound size, proximity to the tooth, and distance from the midline were not significantly correlated with pain (p > .05). Demographic variables such as age and gender were not significantly associated with perceived pain levels. Analgesic use was highest on day 1 and minimal after day 14.Conclusion: FGG thickness is a key determinant of postoperative discomfort, while greater palatal mucosal thickness reduces pain. Careful donor site selection and graft planning are essential to minimize patient morbidity and enhance comfort during periodontal plastic surgery.

Objective: Periodontitis and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are chronic diseases with a well-established bidirectional relationship. Recent studies have focused on salivary biomarkers to better understand their shared inflammatory mechanisms. This study aimed to assess salivary levels of asprosin, interleukin (IL) -39, IL-40, and IL-1β in patients with and without periodontitis and/or diabetes. Materials and methods: Eighty-eight participants were classified into four groups based on periodontal and diabetic status. Unstimulated saliva samples were collected and analyzed by ELISA. In addition to clinical periodontal parameters, body mass index (BMI) and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels were recorded. Results: Salivary asprosin and IL-1β levels were elevated in periodontitis groups regardless of T2DM status and showed positive correlations with BMI. IL-39 showed no significant findings. All biomarkers, with the exception of IL-39, were positively correlated with clinical periodontal parameters. IL-40 was elevated in both diabetic and non-diabetic patients with periodontitis. Conclusions: Elevated salivary asprosin, IL-40, and IL-1β levels in diabetic individuals with periodontitis may indicate their involvement in the inflammatory interactions linking metabolic dysfunction and periodontal tissue breakdown. IL-39 showed limited utility. These findings enhance understanding of salivary inflammatory patterns in diabetes-associated periodontitis, although the saliva-only, cross-sectional design warrants cautious interpretation. Clinical relevance: The identification of salivary asprosin, IL-40, and IL-1β as potential indicators of periodontal and metabolic inflammation suggests that saliva-based testing could support non-invasive screening and monitoring in patients with diabetes and periodontitis. Clinical trial number: NCT06735313.

This study investigated the effects of periodontitis and smoking on salivary interleukin (IL)-39, IL-41, IL-1β, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-&

Aim: This study assesses the relationship between periodontal chief complaints and different periodontal diseases, including variations across periodontitis stages and grades. Methods: A total of 309 patients were enrolled. Demographic data, smoking status, brushing frequency, diabetes, periodontal complaints, and clinical parameters were recorded. Periodontal diseases were categorized as Gingivitis, Gingival Inflammation on a Reduced Periodontium, and Periodontitis. Periodontitis was further classified based on its stages and grades according to clinical and radiographic findings. Associations between periodontal disease groups, periodontitis stages/grades, and chief complaints were analyzed. Results: Significant differences in age, plaque index, probing depth, bleeding on probing, and gingival index were observed among the periodontal disease groups. Halitosis was most the common complaint in the Gingival Inflammation on a Reduced Periodontium (12.8%) and Gingivitis (9.6%) groups, while it was significantly less frequent in the Periodontitis group (3.4%, p<0.001). Gingival recession was significantly more reported in the Gingival Inflammation on a Reduced Periodontium (23.4%) and Periodontitis (15.1%) groups. A significant proportion of patients in Stage I, II, and III primarily reported dental calculus removal as their chief complaint, whereas gingival bleeding and mobility were significantly more common among Stage IV patients. No significant differences were found between periodontal chief complaints and the grades of periodontitis. Conclusion: Patients' periodontal complaints varied across disease types and periodontitis stages but not grades. Understanding these complaints can improve patient cooperation and treatment adherence, ultimately enhancing outcomes.

Objective: This clinical study aimed to compare the short‐term (6‐month) outcomes of root coverage using a subepithelial connective tissue graft with either a modified coronally advanced flap or the tunnel technique in the treatment of recession type I multiple gingival recessions. Materials and Methods: A total of 29 patients (9 males, 20 females) aged 19–59 years were included, with 68 gingival recession defects (24 in the mandible and 44 in the maxilla). Participants were divided into two groups: Group 1 ( n = 14) received root coverage using a subepithelial connective tissue graft with the modified coronally advanced flap, while Group 2 ( n = 15) was treated using the tunnel technique. Clinical and esthetic outcomes were assessed at 1 and 6 months postoperatively. Results: At the 6‐month follow‐up, no statistically significant differences were found between the groups in plaque index, gingival index, papilla height, papilla width, clinical attachment level, or probing depth ( p > 0.05). While recession depth significantly decreased and keratinized gingival width increased in both groups ( p < 0.05), no intergroup differences were observed ( p > 0.05). Mean root coverage was 54.26% ± 29.5% in Group 1 and 63% ± 36% in Group 2 ( p > 0.05). Esthetic outcomes were evaluated using the Root Coverage Esthetic Score (RES), with mean scores of 6.41 ± 2.02 in Group 1 and 6.94 ± 2.09 in Group 2; no significant difference was observed between the groups ( p > 0.05). Conclusion: Within the study's limitations, both surgical techniques yielded comparable clinical and esthetic outcomes at 6 months. Clinical Considerations: In this study, the clinical and esthetic outcomes of treating patients with multiple gingival recession defects using a subepithelial connective tissue graft with either the modified coronally advanced flap technique or the tunnel technique were compared. The results demonstrated that both techniques achieved successful outcomes. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT06509165

Periodontal diseases could cause halitosis and may impair taste and smell. While non-surgical periodontal therapy is known to reduce halitosis, its effects on taste and smell are less studied. This study aims to investigate the factors influencing self-perceived halitosis, taste, and smell, as well as the changes in these perceptions after periodontal therapy. A total of 183 participants were divided into three groups: 61 patients with periodontitis, 61 with gingivitis, and 61 who were gingivally healthy. Periodontal parameters and self-perceived halitosis, taste, and smell were evaluated at baseline and four weeks after non-surgical periodontal treatment using a visual analog scale (VAS). Robust regression analysis was used to assess independent variables influencing baseline VAS ratings. The periodontitis group had the lowest taste perception and the highest self-perceived halitosis scores (p < 0.05). Taste perception was negatively associated with ≥ 4 mm pockets (p = 0.002). A positive relationship was also observed between the plaque index and self-perceived halitosis (p = 0.030). Post-treatment, taste perception improved significantly in all groups (p < 0.05), in parallel with improvements in periodontal parameters. Additionally, self-perceived halitosis showed a significant decrease (p < 0.05). The improvement in smell perception was statistically significant in the gingivally healthy and periodontitis groups (p < 0.05). Periodontal disease may contribute to the development of chemosensory disorders. While the main goal of periodontal treatment is disease management, it can also improve taste and smell function. Oral hygiene practices play an essential role in the development of these improvements. However, further research is needed on the subject. The study was registered as “Investigation of Halitosis, Taste, and Smell in Terms of Periodontal Condition Stated by Patients and Periodontal Diagnosis by Dentists, and Then Evaluation of Change Before and After Treatment” with the registration number NCT06063460 (13/09/2023) at https://www.clinicaltrials.gov Protocol Registration and Results System. This clinical trial was registered prior to participant recruitment on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT06063460,13.09.2023).

Aim: Oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) refers to the impact of social, psychological, and functional factors, as well as problems in the oral-facial region, on individuals’ well-being. This observational study aimed to evaluate the relationship between self-reported symptoms and OHRQoL and the periodontal status of patients presenting for periodontal treatment. Methodology: The study comprised 170 individuals recruited from the Department of Periodontology at Necmettin Erbakan University. Participants were divided into three groups based on their periodontal status: periodontally healthy (65 individuals), gingivitis (51 individuals), and periodontitis (54 individuals). Various clinical periodontal parameters, such as the plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), bleeding on probing (BoP), tooth mobility, and clinical attachment loss (CAL), were assessed alongside self-reported periodontal symptoms. Additionally, participants completed the Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14) questionnaire. Results: Both the periodontitis and gingivitis groups exhibited similar outcomes concerning gingival redness and gingival bleeding during brushing. However, a significantly higher number of affirmative responses for other symptoms were recorded in the periodontitis group (p<0.05). Additionally, the periodontitis group had the highest total OHIP-14 scores and subscale scores, while the periodontally healthy group exhibited the lowest scores (p<0.05). Conclusion: This study demonstrates a significant relationship between OHRQoL, patients' self-reported symptoms, and periodontitis. How to cite this article: Taştan Eroğlu Z, Yıldız K, Uçan Yarkaç F, Özkan Şen D, Babayiğit O. Assessment of self-reported symptoms and oral health-related quality of life in patients requiring periodontal treatment. Int Dent Res. 2024;14(S1):36-44. https://doi.org/10.5577/indentres.554

Aim: The aim of this cross-sectional study was to examine the correlation between patients' subjective perception of xerostomia and their periodontal status and to examine the potential association of this correlation with cardiometabolic disorders. Methodology: A total of 147 patients (40 systemically healthy, 33 with cardiovascular disease [CVD], 40 with type 2 diabetes, and 34 with cardiometabolic disease [CVD + diabetes]) who came to Necmettin Erbakan University, Faculty of Dentistry, Department of Periodontology for periodontal treatment and agreed to participate were included in the study. Sociodemographic information, tooth brushing frequency, systemic disease status, and clinical periodontal parameters (plaque index [PI], gingival index [GI], bleeding on probing [BOP], and mean pocket depths) were recorded. Patients were asked to complete an 11-item subjective xerostomia inventory questionnaire. Results: In the findings of our study, there was no statistically significant correlation between xerostomia total score and mean pocket depths, PI, GI, and BOP (p>0.05). There was no statistically significant difference between the mean values of xerostomia total score according to systemic disease groups (p=0.654). There is a statistically significant difference between the mean values of xerostomia total score according to periodontal status groups (p=0.002). The mean xerostomia total score was 20.19 in periodontally healthy patients, 24.42 in gingivitis patients, and 22.73 in periodontitis patients. Conclusion: Although the results suggest that subjective dry mouth findings are associated with gingivitis, they do not affect pocket depth and do not increase susceptibility to periodontitis. Clinicians should emphasize the risk of gingivitis in patients with dry mouth and the importance of prevention. How to cite this article: Babayiğit O, Ögütcen Ö, Özkan Şen D, Taştan Eroğlu Z, Uçan Yarkaç F. The relationship between xerostomia and periodontal status in patients with cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes. Int Dent Res. 2024; 14(S1):21-27. https://doi.org/10.5577/indentres.556

Academic procrastination (AP), a common behavior among students, is influenced by factors such as fear of failure, task aversiveness, anxiety, and stress. Self-generated stress (SGS) refers to the subjective experience of tension that occurs in response to an existing situation. Individuals often overestimate the difficulty and attainability of a task, resulting in increased stress and extended stress duration. SGS can worsen mental and physical health problems, including bruxism. Therefore, this study investigates the possible underlying connections by examining the relationship between AP, SGS, and self-reported (SR) bruxism in medical and dental students. The present cross-sectional study was undertaken among a sample of 379 students pursuing medical and dentistry degrees in Turkey. The questionnaire, including the Academic Procrastination Scale-Short Form, SR bruxism Scale, and SGS Scale, was administered to the students. According to the responses given to the SR bruxism Scale, 3 types of SR bruxism groups were created as sleep, awake, and compound. A comparative analysis was conducted on AP, SGS, and SR bruxism among medical and dental students. Furthermore, the associations among AP, SGS, and SR bruxism were assessed using the utilization of correlation tables and regression analysis. The prevalence of awake bruxism was higher among dental students (46.6%) compared to medical students (34.7%), suggesting a faculty-dependent trend. A significant positive correlation was observed between SGS and AP (r = 0.212, p < 0.001). Median AP values differed significantly based on awake bruxism (p = 0.007) and compound bruxism (p = 0.013), but not sleep bruxism (p = 0.352). SGS exhibited statistically significant differences across all SR bruxism types: sleep (p < 0.001), awake (p < 0.001), and compound (p < 0.001). Multiple regression analysis identified SGS as a significant risk factor for SR bruxism, with a one-unit increase in stress score elevating the SR bruxism risk by 1.086 times. This study revealed that self-generated stress significantly increases the risk for the development of SR bruxism. A significant relationship was found between academic procrastination and self-generated stress, and this relationship was particularly associated with an increased risk for the development of compound and awake bruxism. Stress-reducing therapy methods should be recommended for students to both increase academic success by reducing academic procrastination and prevent the negative effects of stress-related SR bruxism.

Objectives: This study assessed the ability of ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence(AI) language model, to determine the stage, grade, and extent of periodontitis based on the 2018 classification. Materials and methods: This study used baseline digital data of 200 untreated periodontitis patients to compare standardized reference diagnoses (RDs) with ChatGPT findings and determine the best criteria for assessing stage and grade. RDs were provided by four experts who examined each case. Standardized texts containing the relevant information for each situation were constructed to query ChatGPT. RDs were compared to ChatGPT's responses. Variables influencing the responses of ChatGPT were evaluated. Results: ChatGPT successfully identified the periodontitis stage, grade, and extent in 59.5%, 50.5%, and 84.0% of cases, respectively. Cohen’s kappa values for stage, grade and extent were respectively 0.447, 0.284, and 0.652. A multiple correspondence analysis showed high variance between ChatGPT’s staging and the variables affecting the stage (64.08%) and low variance between ChatGPT’s grading and the variables affecting the grade (42.71%). Conclusions: The present performance of ChatGPT in the classification of periodontitis exhibited a reasonable level. However, it is expected that additional improvements would increase its effectiveness and broaden its range of functionalities (NCT05926999). Clinical relevance: Despite ChatGPT's current limitations in accurately classifying periodontitis, it is important to note that the model has not been specifically trained for this task. However, it is expected that with additional improvements, the effectiveness and capabilities of ChatGPT might be enhanced.