The present study aimed to investigate the link between the severity of periodontal disease (PD), coronary calcifications and unstable plaque features in patients who underwent coronary computed tomography for unstable angina (UA). Fifty-two patients with UA, included in the ATHERODENT trial (NCT03395041), underwent computed tomographic coronary angiography (CCTA) and dental examination. Based on the median value of the periodontal index (PI), patients were assigned to the low periodontal index (LPI) group (PI < 22) and a high periodontal index (HPI) group (PI > 22). Patients with HPI had higher plaque volume (p = 0.013) and noncalcified plaque volume (p = 0.0003) at CCTA. In addition, the presence of vulnerability features in the atheromatous plaques was significantly correlated with PI (p = 0.001). Among periodontal indices, loss of gingival attachment (p = 0.009) and papillary bleeding index (p = 0.002) were strongly associated with high-risk plaques. PI significantly correlated with coronary calcium score (r = 0.45, p = 0.0008), but not with traditional markers of subclinical atherosclerosis. Overall, this subgroup analysis of the ATHERODENT study indicates that patients with advanced PD and UA present a higher amount of calcium in the coronary tree and have a more vulnerable phenotype of their culprit plaques.

Both periodontal disease and atherosclerosis are chronic disorders with an inflammatory substrate that leads to alteration of the host’s immune response. In PD, inflammation is responsible for bone tissue destruction, while in atherosclerosis, it leads to atheromatous plaque formation. These modifications result from the action of pro-inflammatory cytokines that are secreted both locally at gingival or coronary sites, and systemically. Recently, it was observed that in patients with PD or with cardiovascular disease, COVID-19 infection is prone to be more severe. While the association between PD, inflammation and cardiovascular disease is well-known, the impact of COVID-19-related inflammation on the systemic complications of these conditions has not been established yet. The purpose of this review is to bring light upon the latest advances in understanding the link between periodontal–cardiovascular diseases and COVID-19 infection.

The success of proper oral hygiene depends on optimizing plaque control. Compared to tooth brushing alone, interdental brushes are more effective in reducing plaque and gingivitis. The aim of this pilot study was to find a storage and/or disinfection method to reduce the number of bacteria left on interdental brushes after use, thereby reducing the transfer of bacteria from one interdental space to another. We conducted a microbiological comparison of four different storage and/or disinfection methods for interdental brushes. The results suggest that mouthwash may be a useful and accessible method for patients to disinfect and reduce the bacterial load on interdental brushes. Larger, more thorough studies with a larger sample size are necessary to further validate this.

Introduction Acrylic resins are the most frequently used materials for the bases of prostheses, and are also used in the re-optimization and the repair of prostheses. The aimof our study was to investigate whether direct contact with the resin causes decomposition of methyl methacrylate and formation of ketone bodies in the oral cavity. Material and methods The in vitro study included 12 samples of autopolymerized polymethyl methacrylate and 8 samples of thermopolymerized polymethyl methacrylate. Some of the resin samples were intentionally prepared incorrectly, with modified powder to liquid ratios or thermal regime, to be able to compare them with samples prepared according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Some of the samples were immersed in gastric juice or alcohol for 48 h at 37 °C in a thermostatic bath to simulate the environment and temperature of the oral cavity, while others were kept at room temperature. The Legal reaction was used to identify the presence of ketone bodies in the solutions. Results The samples that were prepared incorrectly and were kept at 37 °C were the most affected. The presence of ketone bodies was demonstrated by the formation of a precipitate on the bottom of the test tube and the color change of the solution. Samples that were

Bacterial plaque has the primary etiologic role in triggering the pathological changes of periodontal disease. A major goal of periodontal therapy is supraand subgingival bacterial flora reduction through scaling and root planning, through local and general antimicrobial treatment. The aim of our study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the mechanical treatment of scaling and root planning in reducing or suppressing bacterial species from the periodontal pockets. In order to conduct this study we collected and analyzed subgingival plaque samples taken from the 50 periodontal pockets with a depth of about 5mm, from 50 subjects with diagnosis of generalized chronic periodontitis, before and after scaling and root planning. The usage of API 20A test allows a quick and easy identification of anaerobic bacteria based on biochemical properties. Additional complementary tests were used, such as examining the culture and the morpho-tinctorial features to confirm and complete the identification. The microbial flora that we were able to isolate from the periodontal pockets before scaling and root planning was very rich. After scaling and root planning the subjects showed clinical improvement in the periodontal status, and the microbiological analysis of the periodontal pockets mostly showed a quantitative and qualitative reduction of bacterial species. A local or general antimicrobial treatment is recommended to assure improved effectiveness because mechanical treatment alone cannot completely suppress bacterial flora