Objectives: IL-23p19/Ebi3 (IL-39) was described as a new IL-12 family member. The aim of this study is to evaluate the gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) IL-39 levels in periodontal diseases and health and to correlate them to GCF levels of IL-1β and periostin.Materials and methods: Sixty-six adult patients were included in the study. The study design was comprised of three groups, each containing 22 individuals: the periodontally healthy (PH), gingivitis (G), and periodontitis (P) groups. The clinical periodontal parameters were recorded and GCF samples were collected from the participants. GCF interleukin (IL)-39, IL-1β, and periostin levels were examined using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Results: GCF IL‑1β, periostin, and IL-39 levels were higher in the P and G groups than in the PH group (p < 0.001). Positive correlations were detected between all GCF biochemical parameters and clinical periodontal parameters (p < 0.05). In the multivariate generalized linear regression analysis, the P (β = 37.6, 95% CI = 22.9–52.4) and G (β = 28.4, 95% CI = 15.8–41) groups were associated with GCF IL-39 levels (p < 0.001).Conclusion: IL-39 levels were elevated in the presence of periodontal disease paralleling the increase in IL‑1β and periostin levels. IL-39 may have a role in the periodontal inflammation process.Statement of clinical relevance: IL-39, a new cytokine from the IL-12 family, can be a possible predictor marker of periodontal diseases.

Some studies have suggested potential relationships between periodontal disease and COVID-19, explained by many possible pathological pathways. The aim of this case–control study with a longitudinal arm was to investigate this association. 80 systemically healthy individuals (apart from COVID-19) were involved in this study, divided into 40 patients who had recently had COVID-19 (test, divided into severe and mild/moderate cases) and 40 who had not had COVID-19 (control). Clinical periodontal parameters and laboratory data were recorded. Mann–Whitney U test, Wilcoxon test, and chi-square test were performed to compare variables. Multiple binary logistic regression method was used to estimate adjusted ORs and 95% confidence interval. Hs-CRP-1 and 2, Ferritin-1 and 2, lymphocyte count-1 values, and neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio-1 were higher in patients with severe COVID-19 than patients with mild/moderate COVID-19 (p < 0.05). All of these laboratory values significantly decreased after COVID-19 treatment (p < 0.05) in the test group. Presence of periodontitis (p = 0.015) was higher and periodontal health was lower (p = 0.002) in the test group than in the control group. All clinical periodontal parameters were significantly higher in the test group than in the control group (p < 0.05), except plaque index. Prevalence of periodontitis was associated with increased odds of having COVID-19 infection (PR = 1.34; 95% CI 0.23–2.45) in the multiple binary logistic regression. COVID-19 is associated with periodontitis prevalence, through a series of possible mechanisms including local and systemic inflammatory responses. Further studies should investigate whether the maintenance of periodontal health may be a factor in the reduction of the severity of COVID-19 infections.

Purpose: To investigate the effects of COVID-19 fear on oral health status. Materials and Methods: A total of 1227 participants were enrolled in the study. The online survey link was circulated and responses were received. The questionnaire comprised a total of 24 closed-ended questions, which were divided into three sections. The first section focused on demographic information, the second section on the fear of COVID-19, and the third section focused on oral hygiene habits, dental complaints, and tendency to go to the dentist during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results: Participants who had a higher fear score compared to other respective populations during the corona virus pandemic started brushing more regularly, started to use oral care products more regularly (p = 0.001), and reported increases in: sugary food consumption (p = 0.001), meat consumption (p = 0.017), vegetable consumption (p = 0.019), tooth hypersensitivity, toothache, swelling/abscess on face due to tooth decay (p = 0.001), restoration failures, problems with prostheses (p = 0.007), bleeding and pain in the periodontal tissue, oral malodor, and bruxism (p = 0.001). They also had dental problems but hesitated to visit a dentist, and thought that dental clinics are at risk of COVID-19 contamination (p = 0.001). Conclusion: Fear of COVID-19 was higher in participants who started to pay more attention to their oral hygiene habits, had a change in food consumption frequency and rate, had an increase in oral and dental health complaints, and had dental problems but hesitated to visit a dentist.

Aim: The aim of the present cross‐sectional study was to evaluate periodontal conditions and the association of periodontitis with oral‐health‐related quality of life (OHRQoL) in patients with a history of bipolar disorder.Materials and Methods: A total of 160 participants were recruited in four groups for the study: 40 patients with euthymic episodes, 40 patients with depression, 40 patients with manic episodes and 40 systemically healthy individuals. Clinical periodontal parameters were recorded. Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP‐14) was used to measure the impact of oral health on the quality of life.Results: Bipolar disorder groups exhibited generally higher clinical parameters compared with the control group (p < .05). OHIP‐14 total score (β = 3.32, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.08–6.56, p = .044), functional limitation (β = .89, 95% CI: 0.27–1.49, p = .005) and physical pain (β = .64, 95% CI: 0.01–1.27, p = .046) were associated with bipolar depression episodes. Psychological discomfort was associated with the presence of generalized periodontitis (β = .76, 95% CI: 0.01–1.51, p = .047) and psychological disability was associated with the presence of stage III–IV (β = .83, 95% CI: 0.07–1.59, p = .033) and generalized (β = .75, 95% CI: 0.07–1.42, p = .029) periodontitis.Conclusions: According to this study, a history of bipolar disorder episodes (exposure) may be associated with increased prevalence and severity of periodontitis and related reported OHRQoL impacts (outcomes). Bipolar depression episodes had a higher impact on OHRQoL than other bipolar episodes.