ALEX NOGUEIRA HAAS

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate the association between periodontitis and different severities of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in predialytic patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Demographic, socioeconomic, and medical data of 139 patients from the nephrology service of one university hospital in Porto Alegre, Brazil, were obtained through interview and clinical records. Full-mouth six-sites per tooth periodontal examinations were performed. Associations between periodontitis, stages of CKD, and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) were estimated by multivariable models adjusted for sex, smoking, vitamin D supplementation, physical activity, and renal treatment duration. CKD was classified based on eGFR (<60 ml/min/1.73 m(2) ) estimated by the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration equation. RESULTS: Patients with severe periodontitis, compared to those without severe periodontitis, had 2.8 (95% CI: 1.25-6.62) and 3.4 (95% CI: 1.27-9.09) times higher risk of being in stages 4 and 5 of CKD, respectively. Having >/= 2 teeth with clinical attachment loss (CAL) >/=6 mm increased 3.9 times the risk of being in stage 5 of CKD. Patients with severe periodontitis and >/=2 teeth with CAL >/= 6 mm had 4.4 ml/min/1.73(2) and 5.2 ml/min/1.73(2) lower eGFR (p-values < .05), respectively. CONCLUSION: Severe periodontitis was associated with poor renal conditions in predialytic CKD patients, strengthening the importance of periodontal evaluation in such patient population.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess the survival of composite restorations after selective (SCR) or total caries removal (TCR) and determine predictors of failures after 36 months. METHODS: 120 teeth with deep occlusal or occlusal-proximal carious lesions were randomly divided into control (TCR; n = 54; 69% Class II) and test (SCR; n = 66; 63% Class II) groups. Clinical evaluation was applied using the USPHS criteria, and the presence of Charlie or Delta scores at the marginal integrity were considered as a failure. RESULTS: The overall survival rate of restorations was 68% after 36 months, 81% for TCR and 57% for SCR (p = 0.004). The multivariable Cox Regression model demonstrated that restorations performed after SCR had 3.44 times greater probability of failure compared to TCR (p = 0.006). The other two predictors for failure of restorations were teeth with Class II cavities (hazard ratio = 3.3) and children with gingival bleeding over 20% (hazard ratio = 2.5). CONCLUSIONS: Performing composite restorations after SCR in primary teeth had success rate significantly lower than restorations performed after TCR. Complex cavities and worst patient s oral hygiene were found to be predictors of failure of restorations. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Although SCR has been demonstrating high rates of pulp preservation, clinicians should consider that composite restorations fail in a higher frequency compared to TCR in primary teeth and, in some circumstances, may be preferable in terms of restoration longevity.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to assess the periodontal condition of individuals with Down syndrome and the association with sociodemographic and behavioural characteristics and family perception of oral health. METHODS: This cross-sectional observational study was performed at a referral centre for dental assistance to disabled persons in Aracatuba, Brazil. Parents of the individuals were interviewed, and the visible plaque index, bleeding on probing, probing pocket depth and clinical attachment level were recorded by one periodontist in six sites per tooth of all teeth. The individual was the unit of analysis. The significance level was set at 5%. RESULTS: Sixty-four subjects (23.8 +/- 8.3 years old) were included. Eighteen (28.1%) were diagnosed with gingivitis and 46 (71.9%) with periodontitis. In the multiple logistic regression final model, age and self-reported oral hygiene practices were associated with the occurrence of periodontitis. The chance of having periodontitis was 4.7 times higher among individuals older than 20 years and approximately 4 times higher in patients whose oral hygiene was performed by themselves and their parents, compared with those who performed oral hygiene alone. Sex, follow-up time in the centre, education, degree of participants' dependence, flossing and family history of periodontal disease were not associated with the occurrence of periodontitis. Higher levels of plaque and bleeding were observed for participants with parents reporting bad gingival health (76.2% and 46.9%) and deficient oral hygiene (79.5% and 47.3%). The perception of parents regarding gingival bleeding was correlated with higher bleeding detected clinically (P = 0.01; 50.1%). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of periodontitis in individuals with Down syndrome is high and increases with age, even in the face of the parents' perception about their children's oral condition.

BACKGROUND: Despite the association between cardiovascular diseases and periodontitis, there are scarce data on the impact of oral health in the dietary intake of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). The aim of this study was to assess the association between dietary intake with periodontitis and present teeth in individuals with stable CAD. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 115 patients with stable CAD (76 males, aged 61.0 +/- 8.3 years) who were under cardiovascular care in an outpatient clinic for at least 3 months. Dietary intake was recorded applying a food frequency questionnaire previously validated. Periodontal examinations were performed by two calibrated examiners in six sites per tooth from all present teeth. Blood samples were collected to determine serum levels of lipids. Multivariable logistic and linear regression models were fitted to evaluate the association between dietary outcomes and oral health variables. RESULTS: Individuals with periodontitis had significantly higher percentage of total energy intake from fried foods, sweets, and beans, and also had lower consumption of fruits than those without periodontitis. Presence of periodontitis was associated with lower percentage of individuals who reached the nutritional recommendation of monounsaturated fatty acids and higher blood concentration of triglycerides. Having a greater number of present teeth (>/=20 teeth) was associated with higher intake of fibers and total calories. CONCLUSION: In patients with stable CAD, the presence of periodontitis and tooth loss were associated with a poor dietary intake of nutrients and healthy foods, which are important for cardiovascular prevention.

The aim of this study was to determine the occurrence of gingivitis and calculus and their predictors in a population of adults in Brazil. A representative sample of 758 adults from 35 to 59 years of age from Porto Alegre city was examined. A structured questionnaire was applied. The Gingival Bleeding Index and the presence of calculus were measured at 4 sites/tooth. Multivariable logistic models were fitted to determine the predictors for gingival bleeding at >20% of sites. Overall, 96.5% (95% confidence interval [CI]=95.1-98.0) of individuals had >/= 1 bleeding site. The mean percentages of sites with gingivitis and calculus were 26.1% and 44.6%, respectively. The odds of gingivitis decreased by approximately 45% for individuals >/=40 years old compared to younger adults. Individuals that never performed interproximal cleaning and non-whites had an approximately two times higher chance of gingivitis. Smokers had lower chances of gingivitis than never-smokers (odds ratio=0.40; 95% CI=0.24-0.68). Higher numbers of missing teeth were associated with higher chances of gingivitis. The percentage of calculus was significantly associated with skin color, education, proximal cleaning, smoking exposure, dental visits, and tooth loss. It can be concluded that the occurrence of gingivitis and calculus was high in this Brazilian population, and it was associated with age, skin color, education, self-reported proximal cleaning, smoking, dental care, and tooth loss.

AIM: To assess the effect of periodontal therapy (PT) on cardiovascular blood biomarkers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This single-blind, parallel-design, randomized controlled trial included patients with stable coronary artery disease and periodontitis. The test group (TG) received non-surgical PT, whereas the control group (CG) received one session of plaque removal. Plasma levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), glycated haemoglobin, lipids and cytokines (IL-1beta, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha) were measured at baseline and after 3 months. RESULTS: Eighty-two patients (74.4% women, mean age 59.6 years) were analysed. TG had significantly better periodontal parameters than CG after 3 months, but no significant differences in blood markers were observed between them. In a post hoc subgroup analysis in patients with baseline CRP <3 mg/L, a significant increase in CRP was observed in CG (1.44 +/- 0.82 mg/L to 4.35 +/- 7.85 mg/L, p = 0.01), whereas CRP remained unchanged in TG (1.40 +/- 0.96 mg/L to 1.33 +/- 1.26 mg/L, p = 0.85), resulting in a significant difference between groups at 3 months. In patients with CRP >/=3 mg/L, a significant reduction in CRP was observed only in TG (11.3 +/- 12.8 mg/L to 5.7 +/- 4.1 mg/L, p = 0.04). Levels of IL-6 and IL-8 were significantly lower in TG than CG at 3 months. CONCLUSIONS: PT leads to lower levels of CRP, IL-6 and IL-8 in cardiovascular patients with high CRP levels.

The aim of this study was to assess self-reported history of root canal treatment (SRHRCT) as a method for detecting the presence of root canal treatment (RCT) and apical periodontitis (AP) in a southern Brazilian subpopulation. In this cross-sectional study, 136 military police officers from the city of Porto Alegre, Brazil, were included. The participants were interviewed and full-mouth periapical radiographs were taken. A calibrated examiner determined the presence of RCT and AP by applying standardized criteria. The diagnostic accuracy of SRHRCT was calculated separately for RCT and AP. Accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values (+PV and -PV), efficiency, and positive and negative likelihood ratios (+LR and -LR) were estimated. The mean age of the participants was 34.1 +/- 10.4 years and 88.2% were males. Overall, SRHRCT demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity for RCT, but not for AP: sensitivity (RCT = 0.960, AP = 0.757) and specificity (RCT = 0.835, AP = 0.631). The estimated values for PV and LR were: +PV (RCT=0.777, AP=0.396), -PV (RCT = 0.972, AP = 0.890), +LR (RCT = 5.853, AP = 2.057), and -LR (RCT = 0.046, AP = 0.383). SRHRCT proved to be a good predictor of the presence of RCT, but a weak predictor of AP in this subpopulation.

OBJECTIVES: The identification of predictors of supragingival biofilm accumulation may improve the results of therapeutic strategies for dental caries and periodontal diseases in general clinical practice. This study aimed to determine predictors of changes in visible plaque (VP) and gingival bleeding (GB) during integrated dental care. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective longitudinal study was conducted by a census of patients receiving integrated dental care in a general clinical practice ambulatory at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil). The sample comprised 91 charts of patients attended over a 6-months period. Gender, age, patient's main complaint, oral hygiene pattern, and clinical data were recorded from charts for the last two dental visits in the ambulatory. Changes in VP and GB were modeled by multiple linear regression and beta coefficients (b) were reported. RESULTS: The mean follow-up time was 13 months. Significant reductions in VP (32.8 +/- 27.9 to 17.4 +/- 19.4%; p < 0.001) and GB (27.1 +/- 23.8 to 18.5 +/- 17.3%; p < 0.001) were observed. Higher plaque reductions were predicted by higher baseline VP levels (p = 0.02), shorter time (< 12 months) elapsed between VP recordings (b = 14.1%, p = 0.02), interproximal cleansing (b = 11.9%, p = 0.03), lower number of sessions for oral hygiene instruction (b = 13.7%, p = 0.02), and presence of pockets >/= 6 mm (b = - 12.4%, p = 0.02). GB was predicted by time of follow-up > 12 months and baseline VP. CONCLUSIONS: Plaque and gingivitis improved in patients under integrated dental care. Factors related to motivation, oral hygiene practices, and baseline periodontal status might be used as predictors of VP and GB changes. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Visible plaque and gingivitis reduced in a sample of patients treated under integrated dental care. Some predictors may determine for which patients the treatment may be maximize and those who will need greater efforts to achieve the therapeutic goal for oral hygiene.

The aim of this study was to assess the occurrence of selfreported dentin hypersensitivity (DH) and its risk indicators in adolescents from a southern Brazilian city. 736 students (1519 years old) were randomly selected from 20 public and private schools in the city of Passo Fundo, Brazil. DH was assessed through the answers on a Likert scale to the question: "Do you have tooth sensitivity?".Participants underwent a clinical examination in which present teeth were counted, and answered an interview based on a structured questionnaire on sociode mographic information, history of dental bleaching, orthodontic treatment and oral health habits. The dependent variable (DH) was dichotomized at the point where hypersen sitivity occurs fairly often or always. Data were analyzed by multivariable logistic regression, including demographic, health history, socioeconomic and behavioral variables. Results: 556 (75.5%) subjects reported having sensitive teeth never, rarely or sometimes, while 180 (24.5%) reported having sensitive teeth fairly often or always. In the final model, number of present teeth, age, skin color, flossing, smoking, bleaching and orthodontic history were not associated with selfreported DH. Females showed significantly greater chance of having DH than males [odds ratio (OR)=1.91; 95% confidence interval (95%CI) 1.342.72]. The likelihood of DH in students at public schools was 63% higher than in those at private schools (OR=1.63 95%, CI 1.012.75). DH is a common perception among adolescents and is associated with female gender and studying at public schools.

Most of the literature evaluating dental implants focuses on implant survival, which is a limited proxy for the successful rehabilitation of patients with missing teeth. Success should include not only survival but also lack of mechanical, biological, and esthetics problems. A comprehensive review of local and systemic risk factors prior to implant placement will allow the tailoring of treatment planning and maintenance protocols to the patient's profile in order to achieve longitudinal success of the therapy. This review discusses the role of controlling different risk factors and prevention/treatment of peri-implant mucositis in order to avoid peri-implantitis. Although the literature addressing the topic is still scarce, the existing evidence shows that performing optimal plaque control and regular visits to the dentist seem to be adequate to prevent peri-implant lesions. Due to impossibility of defining a probing depth associate with peri-implant health, radiographic evaluations may be considered in the daily practice. So far, there is a strong evidence linking a past history of periodontal disease to peri-implant lesions, but this is not so evident for other factors including smoking and diabetes. The prevention of biological complications starts even before implant placement and include a broader analysis of the patient risk profile and tailoring the rehabilitation and maintenance protocols accordingly. It should be highlighted that the installation of implants does not modify the patient profile, since it does not modify genetics, microbiology or behavioral habits of any individual.

BACKGROUND: High prevalence rates of peri-implant diseases have been reported; however, the lack of standardization of definition criteria has lead to variations in the observed estimates. In addition, scarce data are available concerning patient and implant related factors associated to peri-implantitis. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of peri-implant diseases and their risk indicators at the patient and implant levels. METHODS: One hundred forty-seven patients with 490 dental implants were included. Dental implants were clinically and radiographically evaluated to determine their peri-implant conditions. Patient-related conditions and implant and prosthetic-related factors were recorded. Multivariable Poisson regression was fitted and prevalence ratios (PR) were reported. RESULTS: 85.3% of implants (95%CI 80.2 to 90.4) had mucositis and 9.2% (95%CI 4.7 to 13.7) had peri-implantitis. 80.9% (95%CI 73.8 to 86.8), and 19.1% (95%CI 12.6 to 25.5) of patients had mucositis and peri-implantitis. At the patient level, it was observed an increased probability of peri-implantitis in individuals with pocket depths >/=6 mm (PR = 2.47) and with >/=4 implants (PR = 1.96). Smoking increased the probability of peri-implantitis by three times (PR = 3.49). The final multilevel Poisson regression model at the implant level indicated that platform switching reduced the probability of peri-implantitis (PR = 0.18) and implants in function for >/=5 years increased this probability (PR = 2.11). The final model including patient and implant level indicators demonstrated that higher time of function (PR = 2.76) and smoking (PR = 6.59) were associated with peri-implantitis. CONCLUSION: Peri-implant diseases are highly prevalent in the studied sample, and factors associated with the occurrence of peri-implantitis were presence of pockets >/=6 mm, smoking, time of function, and type of platform.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects of periodontal treatment on endothelial function in patients with coronary artery disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 69 patients with stable coronary disease and severe periodontitis. The test group received nonsurgical periodontal therapy consisting of personalized oral hygiene instructions, subgingival scaling, and root planing per quadrant, whereas the control group received equal treatment after the study period. Endothelial function was assessed by measurement of brachial artery flow-mediated dilation, concentrations of sVCAM-1, sICAM-1, and P-selectin in serum before and 3 months after periodontal therapy. RESULTS: The test group exhibited statistically better periodontal parameters-plaque, probing depth, periodontal attachment loss, and bleeding on probing. No significant improvements were observed in the control (1.37%) and test (1.39%) groups in flow-mediated dilation, with no significant between-group difference. sVCAM-1 concentration increased in the control group (997.6 +/- 384.4-1201.8 +/- 412.5; p = 0.03), whereas in the test group, no significant changes were observed (915.1 +/- 303.8-1050.3 +/- 492.3; p = 0.17), resulting in a significant difference between the two groups (p = 0.04). The same pattern was observed for concentrations of sICAM-1. CONCLUSION: Periodontal treatment did not provide better vasodilation in patients with coronary disease in a short-term follow-up period, although it maintained blood concentrations of markers of vascular inflammation.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the existing evidence supporting or refuting the following questions: (i) Do patients with lower vitamin D levels have higher risk for periodontal disease? (ii) Are periodontal treatment outcomes improved by the adjuvant supplementation of vitamin D or by elevated serum vitamin D levels? MATERIAL AND METHODS: MEDLINE, SCOPUS, EMBASE and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) databases were searched up to September 2017. Studies were included if they had measured serum vitamin D levels or vitamin D intake and any periodontal parameter. RESULTS: Overall, 27 studies were included (13 cross-sectional studies, 6 case-control studies, 5 cohort studies, 2 randomized clinical trials and 1 case series study). Sixty-five percent of the cross-sectional studies reported significant associations between low vitamin D levels and poor periodontal parameters. None of the observational longitudinal studies found that periodontal disease progression could be attributed to lower vitamin D levels. No interventional studies that evaluated the use of vitamin D supplementation as a solely adjuvant to periodontal treatment was found. No meta-analysis was performed due to high variability across studies. CONCLUSION: The data to support or refute the association between vitamin D levels and periodontal disease are inconclusive at the moment. More rigorously designed longitudinal studies with standardized definitions of periodontal disease and vitamin D are necessary.

BACKGROUND: Little evidence is available regarding the effects of long-term periodontal infection on diabetes mellitus (DM) control. The aim of this retrospective cohort study is to evaluate influence of periodontal status on changes of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels of patients with type 2 DM (DMt2). METHODS: Eighty patients (mean age: 56.0 +/- 8.9 years) with DMt2 were included. Patients were non-smokers, aged >/=40 years, and using antidiabetic drugs. Demographics, health history, and HbA1c levels were retrieved from medical charts. Probing depth and clinical attachment loss (AL) were recorded. RESULTS: Patients were examined at two time points within a mean interval of 38.6 +/- 6.6 months. Increase in HbA1c over time was statistically significant when severe periodontitis was diagnosed at baseline (2.32%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.50% to 3.15%), in patients showing at least one tooth with >/=2 mm of AL progression (2.24%, 95% CI: 1.56% to 2.91%), in males (2.75%, 95% CI: 1.72% to 3.78%), and in those with HbA1c <6.5% at baseline (3.08%, 95% CI: 2.47% to 3.69%). After adjusting for baseline HbA1c, significant changes were still observed for severe periodontitis and progression of AL with increases of 0.85% and 0.9%, respectively. After adjusting for sex and HbA1c, AL progression was also statistically significant, with increases of 0.84%. CONCLUSIONS: Periodontitis progression was associated with increase in HbA1c in patients with DMt2. Identification of these risk factors suggests that periodontal treatment may improve glycemic control of patients with DMt2 by eliminating periodontal infection.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of alcohol consumption on clinical attachment loss (AL) progression over a period of 5 years. METHODS: A multistage probability sampling strategy was used to draw a representative sample of the metropolitan area of Porto Alegre, Brazil. Five hundred thirty-two individuals (209 males and 293 females) aged 18 to 65 years at baseline with no medical history of diabetes and at least six teeth were included in this analysis. Full-mouth periodontal examinations with six sites per tooth were conducted at baseline and after 5 years. Alcohol consumption was assessed at baseline by asking participants about the usual number of drinks consumed in a week. Four categories of alcohol consumption were defined: 1) non-drinker; 2) 1 glass/week and 1 glass/day. Individuals showing at least two teeth with proximal (clinical AL) progression >/=3 mm over 5 years were classified as having disease progression. Multiple Poisson regression models adjusted for age, sex, smoking, socioeconomic status, and body mass index were used to estimate relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: Overall, individuals who consumed >1 glass/day had 30% higher risk for clinical AL progression (RR = 1.30; 95% CI: 1.07 to 1.58) than non-drinkers. Among males, risk of clinical AL progression for individuals drinking >1 glass/day was 34% higher than non-drinkers (RR = 1.34; 95% CI: 1.09 to 1.64). Never-smoker males drinking 1 glass/day had significantly higher risk (RR = 1.50; 95% CI: 1.08 to 1.99). Among females, no association between alcohol consumption and clinical AL progression was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Alcohol consumption increased the risk of clinical AL progression, and this effect was more pronounced in males. Low dosages (

AIM: To evaluate the association between chronic oral inflammatory burden (OIB) - as the combination of periodontal and endodontic disease load - and physical fitness. METHODOLOGY: One hundred and twelve nonsmoker male police officers who performed a standardized physical fitness test (PFT) were analysed. Participants underwent oral clinical and periapical radiographic examinations. Periodontal disease was assessed by probing depth (PD) and clinical attachment loss (AL). For radiographic analysis, both apical periodontitis (AP) and root canal treatment (RCT) variables were analysed. Endodontic Burden (EB) was calculated merging the total number of teeth with AP and/or RCT per individual. OIB was calculated combining EB and AL. The outcome of physical fitness was dichotomized according to whether the highest PFT score was 'achieved' or 'not-achieved'. Multivariable logistic regression models were adjusted for age, body mass index and frequency of daily exercise. RESULTS: There was no significant association between AP, RCT and EB with physical fitness whereas PD, AL and OIB were significantly associated with low physical fitness (P < 0.05). Multivariate regression analysis revealed that individuals with OIB = EB >/= 3 and AL >/= 4 mm had a 81% lower chance of reaching the highest PFT score (OR = 0.19, 95%CI = 0.04-0.87, P = 0.03) compared to individuals with EB < 3 and and no AL >/= 4 mm. Individuals with unfavourable periodontal parameters but with low EB (OIB = EB < 3 & AL >/= 4 mm) showed no significant differences on the chance to reach the highest PFT score compared to participants with favourable periodontal status and low EB (OIB = EB < 3 & no AL >/= 4 mm). CONCLUSIONS: The OIB - higher levels of EB in periodontal patients - was independently associated with poor physical fitness in males.

Little is known about the factors that may be used in clinical practice to predict the therapeutic response of aggressive periodontitis patients. The aim of this study was to determine predictors of clinical outcomes after non-surgical treatment of aggressive periodontitis. A total of 24 patients (aged 13-26 years) received oral hygiene instructions, as well as subgingival scaling and root planing. Twelve subjects received systemic azithromycin at random. Clinical variables were assessed at baseline, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. Baseline microbiological assessment was performed by checkerboard DNA-DNA hybridization. Multivariable models used generalized estimating equations. There were significant improvements in the entire sample in regard to pocket depth, clinical attachment level and bleeding on probing. Significant predictors of a reduction in mean pocket depth were: use of azithromycin, non-molar teeth, generalized disease and baseline pocket depth. Absence of plaque predicted a 0.22 mm higher attachment gain, whereas a baseline pocket depth >/=7 mm predicted a 1.36 mm higher attachment loss. Azithromycin, plaque, and baseline pocket depth were significant predictors of bleeding on probing. The concomitant presence of all three red complex species predicted a 0.78 mm higher attachment loss. It may be concluded that dental plaque, tooth type, disease extent, baseline pocket depth, and use of azithromycin were significant predictors of the clinical response to treatment for aggressive periodontitis in young individuals. Moreover, the presence of multiple periodontal pathogens may predict challenges in achieving a favorable outcome for aggressive periodontitis.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 91 patients with stable CAD who had been under optimized cardiovascular care. Blood levels of IL-1beta, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IFN-gamma, and TNF-alpha were measured by Luminex technology. A full-mouth periodontal examination was conducted to record probing depth (PD) and clinical attachment (CA) loss. Multiple linear regression models, adjusting for gender, body mass index, oral hypoglycemic drugs, smoking, and occurre:nce of acute myocardial infarction were applied. RESULTS: CAD patients that experienced major events had higher concentrations of IFN-gamma (median: 5.05 pg/mL vs. 3.01 pg/mL; p=0.01), IL-10 (median: 2.33 pg/mL vs. 1.01 pg/mL; p=0.03), and TNF-alpha (median: 9.17 pg/mL vs. 7.47 pg/mL; p=0.02). Higher numbers of teeth with at least 6 mm of CA loss (R2=0.07) and PD (R2=0.06) were significantly associated with higher IFN-gamma log concentrations. Mean CA loss (R2=0.05) and PD (R2=0.06) were significantly related to IL-10 concentrations. Elevated concentrations of TNF-alpha were associated with higher mean CA loss (R2=0.07). CONCLUSION: Periodontal disease is associated with increased systemic inflammation in stable cardiovascular patients. These findings provide additional evidence supporting the idea that periodontal disease can be a prognostic factor in cardiovascular patients.

AIM: The aim of this study was to assess the effect of overweight and obesity on periodontal attachment loss (PAL) progression in an urban population from south Brazil. METHODS: In 2001, a population-based oral health survey entitled "Epidemiology of periodontal diseases: the Porto Alegre Study" was conducted by drawing a probabilistic sample of 1586 individuals. After 5 years, 755 (participation rate: 47.6%) individuals were re-examined. For this analysis, self-reported diabetics, underweight individuals, and individuals with <6 teeth were excluded. Poisson regressions were used to calculate relative risks (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) adjusted for sex, age, skin colour, education, socio-economic status, smoking and dental care. RESULTS: Five hundred and eighty-two individuals (333 males/249 females, 36.02 +/- 14.97 years) were included. Overall, obese individuals had significantly higher risk of experiencing PAL progression than individuals with normal weight after adjusting for important co-factors (RR = 1.36, 95% CI = 1.04-1.78). In a stratified analysis, no statistically significant associations were observed between PAL progression and obesity for males (RR = 1.13, 95% CI = 0.75-1.69), whereas obese females were at statistically significant higher risk than normal weight females (RR = 1.64, 95% CI = 1.11-2.43). CONCLUSION: Obesity appears to be a risk factor for PAL progression for females but not males in this developing country population.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy of EO as adjuncts to mechanical plaque control (MPC) on the reduction of plaque and gingivitis when compared to placebo or cetylpyridium chloride (CPC). DATA: Randomized controlled trials of at least 6 months of follow-up including systemically healthy individuals with gingivitis were included. SOURCES: MEDLINE, EMBASE, Lilacs and SCOPUS were searched up to April 2016. From 3045 citations, 16 studies were included. 14 studies assessed the Quigley-Hein Plaque Index (QHI) and 11 studies assessed the Modified Gingival Index (MGI) and were included in meta-analyses and meta-regression. STUDY SELECTION: The analysis of risk of bias suggested that the quality of the studies ranged from moderate to low. Mean QHI (WMD=-0.86, 95%CI -1.05 to -0.66) and MGI (WMD=-0.52, 95%CI -0.67 to -0.37) were lower for EO+MPC than placebo+MPC. Reductions in plaque and gingivitis were, respectively, 32% and 24% larger for EO+MPC than placebo+MPC. The decreases in QHI (WMD=-0.95, 95%CI -1.26 to -0.63) and in MGI (WMD=-0.34, 95%CI -0.53 to -0.15) observed in the EO+MPC group, compared to placebo+MPC in interproximal areas, were significantly different and in favor to EO+MPC. EO+MPC compared to CPC+MPC resulted in clinically lower levels of plaque and gingivitis. High heterogeneity (I(2)>95%) was found and explained (MGI-R(2)=63.6%; QHI-R(2)=80.1%) by differences between studies in the percentage of males, supervision of the mouthwashes and provision of oral hygiene. CONCLUSIONS: EO seems to be superior to placebo+MPC and CPC+MPC for reduction of plaque and gingival inflammation in patients with gingivitis. Expected benefits may be clinically relevant and may also reach the interproximal area. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Mouthwashes containing essential oils should be considered the first choice for daily use as adjuvants to self-performed mechanical plaque control.

The present study aimed to assess the rate of agreement between clinical and histopathological diagnoses and to report the frequency of completed forms for specimens that were subjected to histopathological examination and retrospectively examined. Data from 8,168 specimens submitted to histopathological examination were retrieved from the records. A total of 5,368 cases were included. Agreement was defined based on the definition of lesion nature according to its diagnostic category. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were calculated for each diagnostic category. The highest rate of agreement was observed for periapical lesions (92.6%), followed by potentially malignant disorders (90.1%) and non-neoplastic proliferative disorders (89.3%). Low rates of histopathological confirmation of the clinical impression were observed for mesenchymal tumors (25.0%) and cysts (44.2%). Sensitivity values were > 0.70 for all lesions, except for cysts (0.51). Specificity was relatively high, ranging from 0.97 to 1.00. The frequency of incomplete biopsy forms ranged from 16.8% (malignant tumors of oral mucosal epithelium) to 51.0% (nonspecific inflammatory reaction). The most frequently completed biopsy forms corresponded to epithelial malignant tumors (83.2%) and glandular inflammation (72.3%). In conclusion, there was an acceptable level of agreement. The low level of completeness of biopsy forms indicates little awareness about the relevance of gathering detailed information during clinical examination.

Halitosis is still poorly studied in young adults. The aim of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of self-reported halitosis and associate it with demographic and behavioral factors in young adult dental students. This cross-sectional study was designed as a census of students enrolled in three initial and three final semesters of a dental course in a Brazilian public university. Of 284 eligible students, 257 (90.5%) completed a self-administered questionnaire. Self-reported halitosis was the primary study outcome, and was assessed with the question "do you feel you have bad breath?". Data on age, gender, frequency of tooth brushing and interproximal cleaning, tongue cleaning, mouth rinse use and dry mouth were collected using the questionnaire, and were considered independent variables. Of the students surveyed, 26.5% reported as never, 51.7% as rarely, 21.4% as sometimes, and 0.4% as always feeling they had halitosis. Morning halitosis was reported by 90.6% of those who reported halitosis. In the final multiple model, last semester students had a 55% lower chance of reporting halitosis, compared with students from the first semesters [odds ratio (OR) 0.46; 95%CI 0.24-0.89]. Women had a 2.57fold higher chance of reporting halitosis (OR = 2.57; 95%CI 1.12-5.93). Dry mouth increased the chance of self-reported halitosis 3.95-fold, compared with absence of dry mouth (OR = 3.95; 95%CI 2.03-7.68). It can be concluded that self-reports of halitosis were low among dental students, but may represent an important complaint. Gender, dry mouth and level of college education of the dentist were factors significantly associated with self-reported halitosis.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the association between gingival recession (GR) and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in a Brazilian population of adults. METHODS: A representative sample from Porto Alegre city was drawn in 2011 using a multistage probability sampling strategy. For this study, 740 individuals, 35-59 years of age and with >/=6 teeth, were included. GR was assessed by two calibrated examiners at four sites in all present teeth. The Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) was used to assess OHRQoL. OHIP-14 was dichotomized using 'fairly often' as the cutoff point for a negative impact. Multiple logistic regression models were fitted to define which descriptors of GR were associated with the dichotomous outcome of OHIP-14, including dentine hypersensitivity in separate models, adjusting for age, gender, socioeconomic status, smoking, dental care, and missing teeth. RESULTS: Mean OHIP was significantly higher for individuals with >/=1 tooth with GR >/=2, >/=3, >/=4, and >/=5 mm. Individuals with >/=1 tooth with GR >/=2 mm had approximately two times higher chance of having a negative impact than individuals without GR of this threshold [odds ratio (OR) = 1.99, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.05-3.78]. When buccal and proximal sites were analyzed separately, the presence of GR was significantly associated with worst quality of life only in anterior and not in posterior teeth. GR in the lower arch had no impact on OHRQoL. GR >/=2 mm affected only physical pain (OR = 2.61; 95% CI 1.06-6.42), whereas GR >/=4 mm affected functional limitation, physical pain, psychological discomfort, physical and psychological disabilities, with ORs ranging from 1.43 to 1.91. Dentine hypersensitivity alone was not associated with OHRQoL, but it modified the association between GR and OHIP when present concomitantly with GR, mainly in buccal sites. CONCLUSIONS: OHRQoL is poorer in this adult population in the presence of GR, mainly in upper and anterior teeth. Dentine hypersensitivity and esthetics were found to be factors linking GR to OHRQoL.

OBJECTIVE AND BACKGROUND: To evaluate the association between periodontal disease, tooth loss and coronary heart disease (CHD). There is still controversy about the relationship between periodontal disease and tooth loss with vessel obstruction assessed using coronary angiography. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 195 patients that underwent coronary angiography and presented with at least six teeth. Patients were classified into three categories of coronary obstruction severity: absence; one or more vessels with /= 50% obstruction. The extent of coronary obstruction was dichotomized into 0 and >/= 1 affected vessels. A periodontist blinded to patient CHD status conducted a full mouth examination to determine mean clinical attachment loss, mean periodontal probing depth and tooth loss. Multiple logistic regression models were applied adjusting for age, gender, hypertension, smoking, body mass index, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and C-reactive protein. RESULTS: Most patients were males (62.1%) older than 60 years (50.8%), and 61% of them had CHD. Mean periodontal probing depth, clinical attachment loss and tooth loss were 2.64 +/- 0.72 mm, 4.40 +/- 1.31 mm and 12.50 +/- 6.98 teeth respectively. In the multivariable models, tooth loss was significantly associated with a higher chance of having at least one obstructed vessel (odds ratio = 1.04; 95% confidence interval 1.01-1.09) and with vessel obstruction >/= 50% (odds ratio = 1.06; 95% confidence interval 1.01-1.11). No significant associations were found between periodontal variables and vessel obstruction. CONCLUSION: Tooth loss was found to be a risk indicator for CHD.

PURPOSE: To determine whether family income, age and educational level of the mother of the family are associated with self-reported use of dental floss over a 13-year period in a city in southern Brazil. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A comparison of two household surveys was carried out where mothers of the family were interviewed using a structured questionnaire in order to obtain demographic, behavioural and socioeconomic information. In total, 852 and 984 households were included in 1996 and 2009, respectively. Self-reported use of dental floss was assessed dichotomously (yes/no). Poisson regression models were fitted to study the association between sociodemographic variables with the use of dental floss. Proportion ratios (PR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were reported. RESULTS: The proportion of dental floss use increased from 48% to 59% over 13 years. The probability of dental floss use increased 1.23 times from 1996 to 2009 (PR = 1.23; 95% CI 1.13-1.34). Households with mothers >/=50 years old presented a 28% lower probability of using dental floss than households with mothers