Introduction. The aim of this study is to demonstrate the effectiveness of addition of the antimicrobial photodynamic therapy to the conventional approach in the treatment of peri-implantitis.Materials and Methods. Forty patients were randomly assigned to test or control groups. Patients were assessed at baseline and at six (T1), twelve (T2), and twenty-four (T3) weeks recording plaque index (PlI), probing pocket depth (PPD), and bleeding on probing (BOP); control group received conventional periodontal therapy, while test group received photodynamic therapy in addition to it.Result. Test group showed a 70% reduction in the plaque index values and a 60% reduction in PD values compared to the baseline. BOP and suppuration were not detectable. Control group showed a significative reduction in plaque index and PD.Discussion. Laser therapy has some advantages in comparison to traditional therapy, with faster and greater healing of the wound.Conclusion. Test group showed after 24 weeks a better value in terms of PPD, BOP, and PlI, with an average pocket depth value of 2 mm, if compared with control group (3 mm). Our results suggest that antimicrobial photodynamic therapy with diode laser and phenothiazine chloride represents a reliable adjunctive treatment to conventional therapy. Photodynamic therapy should, however, be considered a coadjuvant in the treatment of peri-implantitis associated with mechanical (scaling) and surgical (grafts) treatments.

The aim of this study was to compare the peripheral bone damage induced by different cutting systems. Four devices were tested: Er:YAG laser (2.94 mm), Piezosurgery, high-speed drill and low-speed drill. Forty-five bone sections, divided into 9 groups according to different parameters, were taken from pig mandibles within 1 h post mortem. Specimens were fixed in 10% buffered formalin, decalcified and cut in thin sections. Four different parameters were analyzed: cut precision, depth of incision, peripheral carbonization and presence of bone fragments. For statistical analysis, the Kruskal-Wallis test was applied to assess equality of sample medians among groups. All sections obtained with the Er:YAG laser showed poor peripheral carbonization. The edges of the incisions were always well-shaped and regular, no melting was observed. Piezosurgery specimens revealed superficial incisions without thermal damage but with irregular edges. The sections obtained by traditional drilling showed poor peripheral carbonization, especially if obtained at lower speed. There was statistically significant differences (p<0.01) among the cutting systems for all analyzed parameters. Er:YAG laser, gave poor peripheral carbonization, and may be considered an effective method in oral bone biopsies and permits to obtain clear and readable tissue specimens.

Objective: To assess evidence on the efficacy of adjuvant human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination in patients treated for HPV-related disease across different susceptible organ sites. Methods: A systematic review was conducted to identify studies addressing the efficacy of adjuvant HPV vaccination on reducing the risk of recurrence of HPV-related preinvasive diseases. Results were reported as mean differences or pooled odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Results: Sixteen studies were identified for the final analysis. Overall, 21,472 patients with cervical dysplasia were included: 4132 (19.2%) received the peri-operative HPV vaccine, while 17,340 (80.8%) underwent surgical treatment alone. The recurrences of CIN 1+ (OR 0.45, 95% CI 0.27 to 0.73; p = 0.001), CIN 2+ (OR 0.33, 95% CI 0.20 to 0.52; p < 0.0001), and CIN 3 (OR 0.28, 95% CI 0.13 to 0.59; p = 0.0009) were lower in the vaccinated than in unvaccinated group. Similarly, adjuvant vaccination reduced the risk of developing anal intraepithelial neoplasia (p = 0.005) and recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (p = 0.004). No differences in anogenital warts and vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia recurrence rate were observed comparing vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals. Conclusions: Adjuvant HPV vaccination is associated with a reduced risk of CIN recurrence, although there are limited data regarding its role in other HPV-related diseases. Further research is warranted to shed more light on the role of HPV vaccination as adjuvant therapy after primary treatment.

Background: Bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ) is an adverse side effect associated with bisphosphonate (BP) therapy, especially when parenteral BP administration is used. Patients affected by BRONJ present wide areas of exposed necrotic bone, particularly after surgical oral procedures. The main symptom is pain that is poorly controlled by common analgesic drugs. Recently, many studies have pointed to the beneficial effect of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) in pain reduction for many pathological conditions. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether LLLT could be helpful in managing BRONJ by reducing the problems associated with this condition and the use of analgesic drugs. Methods: Twelve patients affected by BRONJ were monitored at the Complex Operative Unit of Oral Pathology. Among these patients, only seven referred to pain in necrotic areas and were recruited for LLLT. Laser applications were performed with a double diode laser simultaneously emitting at two different wavelengths (λ = 650 nm and λ = 904–910 nm, spot size = 8 mm). All of the patients were irradiated with a fluence of 0.053 J/cm ² for 15 min five times over a period of 2 weeks, in a non-contact mode, ∼1 mm from the pathologic area. The patient's maximum and minimum pain was recorded using a numeric rating scale (NRS) evaluation before and after the treatment. Statistical analysis was performed using the Kruskal–Wallis test. Results: Six patients showed significant pain reduction, and only one patient indicated a worsening of the symptoms, which was probably related to a reinfection of the BRONJ site, which occurred during the study. A statistically significant difference ( p < 0.05) was found between the NRS rates before and after the protocol. Conclusions: This pilot study suggests that LLLT may be a valid technique to support the treatment of BRONJ-related pain, even though the low number of cases in this study does not permit any conclusive consideration.

Aim: The aim of the present systematic review was to investigate the risk of malignant transformation of proliferative verrucous leukoplakia (PVL). Materials and Methods: the search was carried out using a combination of terms (leukoplakia OR leucoplakia) AND (multifocal OR proliferative) on the following databases: PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science (WOS Core Collection), Cochrane Library, selecting only articles published since 1985 and in the English language. Demographic, disease-related, and follow-up data extracted from the studies included in the qualitative synthesis were combined. Weighted means ± standard deviations were calculated for continuous variables, while categorical variables were reported as frequencies and percentages. Dichotomous outcomes were expressed as odd ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Odd ratios for individual studies were combined using a random-effects meta-analysis, conducted using Review Manager 5.4 Software (Cochrane Community, Oxford, England). Results: twenty-two articles were included, with a total of 699 PVL patients, undergoing a mean follow-up of 7.2 years. Sixty-six percent of patients were females, with a mean age of 70.2 years, and 33.3% were males, with a mean age of 59.6 years. Most patients were non-smokers and non-alcohol users, and the gingiva/alveolar ridge mucosa was the most involved anatomical site by both PVL appearance and malignant transformation. A total of 320 PVL patients developed oral verrucous carcinoma (OVC) or conventional oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) because of malignant transformation of PVL lesions (45.8%). A statistically significant 3.8-fold higher risk of progression to conventional OSCC was found compared to OVC in PVL patients, with women being 1.7 times more likely to develop oral cancer than men, as a consequence of PVL progression. Moreover, a statistically significant higher likelihood of developing conventional OSCC in female PVL patients than in males was found. In 46.5% of patients with PVL malignant transformation, multiple carcinomas, in different oral sites, occurred during follow-up. Conclusions: PVL is an aggressive lesion, which, in a high percentage of cases (almost 50%), undergoes malignant transformation, mainly toward OSCC. The female gender is most affected, especially in the elderly, with a negative history for alcohol and tobacco consumption.

Introduction. Dentine hypersensitivity (DH) is characterized by pain after stimuli that usually provoke no symptoms. This study compared the effectiveness of GaAlAs diode laser alone and with topical sodium fluoride gel (NaF).Materials and Methods. The study was conducted on 10 patients (8 F/2 M, age 25–60) and 115 teeth with DH assessed by air and tactile stimuli measured by Numeric Rating Scale (NRS). Teeth were randomly divided into G1 (34 teeth) treated by 1.25% NaF; G2 (33 teeth) lased at 0.5 W PW (T on 100 m and T off 100 ms), fluence 62.2 J/cm²in defocused mode with a 320 μfiber. Each tooth received three 1′ applications; G3 (48 teeth) received NaF gel plus laser at same G2 parameters. NRS was checked at each control.Results. Significant pain reduction was showed. The NRS reduction percentages were calculated, and there was a concrete decrease of DH above all in G3 than G2 and G1.Conclusion. Diode laser is a useful device for DH treatment if used alone and mainly if used with NaF gel.