Background: The aim of this study is to quantify chemotherapy agents in the saliva of oncology patients undergoing intravenous chemotherapy treatment, and evaluate the oral and periodontal clinical modifications and possible correlations between them. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted on 29 patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment with cisplatin, oxaliplatin or gemcitabine. Three total saliva samples were gathered from each patient in three key points regarding chemotherapy. The samples were then analyzed through methods of mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography. Results: Cisplatin and gemcitabine were only found in saliva at 30 min and 2 h after chemotherapy administration, however oxaliplatin was determined in all three samples. Clinically, the most accentuated clinical attachment loss and CPITN scores were observed on mandibular teeth, whereas the highest values for the Sillness and Loe gingival index and gingival bleeding index were in the lateral maxillary areas. We found no statistically significant correlation between the periodontal parameters and chemotherapy concentration in saliva. Conclusion: A fraction of systemically administered chemotherapy can also be found in the saliva of oncology patients and have the potential to exacerbate oral infections and cause local and systemic complications throughout the oncology treatment. Further research is required in order to fully understand how chemotherapy can influence the development of periodontal disease.

GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) are widely used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes and obesity and are increasingly relevant in periodontal and implant practice. This review covers mechanisms, preclinical and early human evidence, and practical periodontal considerations; the structured database search is conducted in accordance with the Scale for the Assessment of Narrative Review Articles (SANRA) and the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) principles. Two pathways explain GLP-1RAs’ relevance: indirect effects from better glycemic control, weight loss, and reduced inflammation; and direct tissue effects involving GLP-1R signaling and the GLP-1/dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) axis. Preclinical studies show reduced inflammation, osteoclast activity, and alveolar bone loss, along with improved periodontal stem cell function under hyperglycemia or inflammation via Nuclear Factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB), Wingless-related integration site (Wnt)/beta-catenin, and Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK) pathways. Animal studies on implants and local delivery, including exendin-4 platforms, suggest osteometabolic benefits. Human data are limited and mostly observational, and confounders include metabolic status, smoking, medication, and nutrition. Oral side effects such as xerostomia and dehydration are also noted. At present, GLP-1RA therapy should be regarded as a contextual modifier of periodontal risk and healing capacity rather than as a stand-alone periodontal therapy.

Background/Objectives: Air-polishing has become, in recent years, a very popular additional tool to subgingival debridement for treating periodontal disease. Vitamin D₃ plays a crucial role in bone metabolism and calcium-phosphate homeostasis. The aim of our retrospective study was to determine the additional effect of subgingival air-polishing with two types of powders (glycine and erythritol) on patients with different stages of periodontitis and low serum levels of Vitamin D₃. Methods: We collected and analysed the data of 62 patients (demographics, vitamin D₃ levels, plaque index, periodontal probing depth, bleeding on probing, clinical attachment loss, periodontitis stage and type of air-polishing powder) used during periodontal therapy. Results: We did not observe a significant correlation between periodontal status and vitamin D₃ levels/status (mean Vitamin D₃ levels: Stage I—20.19 ± 4.413 ng/mL; Stage II—19.482 ± 3.814 ng/mL; Stage III—17.681 ± 5.869 ng/mL; Stage IV—17.578 ± 5.94 ng/mL; and p = 0.539), nor did we find any significant differences in clinical outcomes when using glycine or erythritol in addition to scaling and root planning (SRP) at 3 months after treatment (all p > 0.05). Conclusions: The discrete association between lower levels of vitamin D₃ and more advanced stages of periodontitis could suggest a possible influence of vitamin D₃ insufficiency on periodontal disease progression. Although safe, easy to use and comfortable for patients, glycine and erythritol showed no differences in periodontal clinical parameters when compared as an addition to SRP.

Background/Objectives. Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease influenced by systemic and psychological factors, including depression. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), widely used to treat depression, may also affect periodontal healing. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical efficacy of full-mouth disinfection (FMD) in patients with periodontitis, with or without comorbid depression and SSRI therapy. Methods. Eighty participants were enrolled and divided into two groups: periodontitis only (n = 40) and periodontitis with depression (n = 40), the latter subgrouped by SSRI usage. Clinical parameters, including probing depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL), bleeding on probing (BOP), and plaque index (PI), were assessed at baseline and 12 weeks after FMD. Results. Following FMD, significant improvements were observed in PD, PI, and BOP across all groups (p < 0.001). In the non-depressed group, mean PD decreased from 4.26 ± 0.97 mm to 2.76 ± 0.56 mm (p < 0.001) and PI from 3.85 ± 0.70 to 1.05 ± 0.99. Patients with depression had higher initial PD (4.98 ± 1.05 mm) but still showed improvement to 3.08 ± 0.69 mm (p < 0.001). CAL improved significantly only in non-depressed individuals (p = 0.008), while no statistically significant CAL changes were observed in depressed patients (p > 0.05). SSRI therapy did not significantly influence treatment outcomes (p > 0.05). Conclusions. FMD is clinically effective in reducing periodontal inflammation in patients with or without depression. However, improvements in CAL were more pronounced in non-depressed individuals, suggesting that depression may partially attenuate periodontal healing.

Background: Full-mouth disinfection (FMD) has been proposed as an effective non-surgical approach for the management of periodontitis; however, its clinical and microbiological outcomes in patients with depressive comorbidity remain insufficiently explored. Methods: This prospective study included 80 patients diagnosed with stage II periodontitis, allocated into two groups based on the presence or absence of depressive disorder. All participants underwent standardized FMD. Clinical parameters, including bleeding on probing and plaque index, together with subgingival bacterial load (total bacterial load, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Treponema denticola, and Tannerella forsythia), were assessed at baseline and 12 weeks post-treatment using quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Microbiological data were log10-transformed prior to statistical analysis. Results: Significant reductions in both clinical and microbiological parameters were observed following treatment in both groups. Improvements in bleeding on probing and plaque index were accompanied by a marked decrease in total bacterial load and in the targeted periodontal pathogens. Patients with depressive disorder exhibited a higher baseline microbial burden; however, post-treatment reductions were comparable between groups. Moderate positive correlations were identified between total bacterial load and clinical parameters. Conclusions: FMD was associated with substantial short-term improvements in both clinical and microbiological outcomes in patients with stage II periodontitis. Depressive comorbidity did not appear to adversely influence treatment response. These findings support the role of biofilm control as a central component of periodontal therapy across different patient profiles.

Periodontitis, the sixth most prevalent oral disease globally, is a chronic and multifactorial inflammatory condition defined by the progressive and irreversible destruction of tooth-supporting structures, such as the periodontal ligament, cementum, and alveolar bone. In the absence of periodontal treatment, this destructive process leads to increased tooth mobility and even tooth loss. Consequently, this will impair masticatory and esthetic functions and overall quality of life. Clinical guidelines, including those from the European Federation of Periodontology, underline the importance of thorough disruption of supragingival and subgingival biofilm as a fundamental component of periodontal therapy at all stages. In the last two decades, air-polishing devices have emerged as valuable adjuncts and even alternatives to conventional hand and ultrasonic instrumentation for managing supragingival and subgingival biofilm. These devices operate by delivering a controlled, pressurized mixture of water, compressed air, and abrasive powder particles onto tooth surfaces, thereby disrupting dental biofilm. The development of low-abrasivity powders like glycine, erythritol, and trehalose has extended the use of air-polishing technology in subgingival spaces. This has resulted in more effective biofilm removal in periodontal pockets while minimizing the potential damage to root surfaces and soft tissues. Clinical studies indicate that air polishing is a safe, comfortable, and time-efficient tool that complements scaling and root planing during active nonsurgical periodontal therapy. Additionally, air polishing can be used as a supportive periodontal therapy approach, serving as a standalone method for managing residual pockets. This could provide clinical outcomes comparable to conventional instrumentation, increase patient comfort, and reduce treatment duration.