Effect of desquamative gingivitis on periodontal status: a pilot study

Objective:  Desquamative gingivitis (DG) represents the gingival manifestation associated with several mucocutaneous disorders and systemic conditions. Little is known of whether or not DG could influence the onset or progression of plaque-related periodontitis. In this study, the potential impact of DG on plaque-related attachment loss and pocket formation has been evaluated. Methods:  A cross-sectional evaluation of 12 patients with DG [eight oral lichen planus (OLP), four mucous membrane pemphigoid (MMP)], never treated for DG lesions or plaque-related periodontitis, was carried out. Probing depth (PD), clinical attachment loss (CAL), full-mouth plaque (FMPS), and bleeding (FMBS) scores …

Legal liability in bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw

Bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ) is an adverse reaction that may occur in patients administered with bisphosphonates (BP). This condition can cause high morbidity and hinder quality of life. Its treatment is complex and often unsatisfactory, and prevention strategies may have limited effectiveness, if any. Thus, managing patients treated with BP may result in exposure of the practitioner to legal liability or malpractice claims: legal actions pursuant to BRONJ are reported to be underway on three continents. Nonetheless, the attribution of liability, if any, is a complex process requiring, on the basis of current knowledge, a robust and pragmatic approach to the facts…

Raccomandazioni cliniche in odontostomatologia

L’Organizzazione Mondiale della Sanità considera la salute orale come parte integrante, non solo dello stato di salute generale, ma anche della qualità della vita di ciascun individuo. In tale ottica, in accordo e con il sostegno del mondo professionale e della comunità scientifica di questo settore, le raccomandazioni cliniche in odontostomatologia contenute nel presente volume forniscono indicazioni e definiscono standard di intervento per la prevenzione e la cura delle più comuni patologie del cavo orale nonché per l’identificazione di percorsi terapeutici appropriati a supporto degli operatori pubblici e privati. Esse costituiscono, inoltre, uno strumento utile per mantenere alto il liv…

Proceedings of the Closed Round Table and Italian Consensus on the Medication-Related Osteonecrosis of Jaws (MRONJ) at the Symposium of Italian Society of Oral Pathology and Medicine (SIPMO) Ancona, 20 October 2018 - Part III

Adverse drug reactions in the oral cavity

Several drugs may have a number of adverse reactions (ADRs) involving the oro-facial region. The dose of the drug and the time required for the reaction to take place are relevant parameters; nonetheless, ADRs mechanisms are not always known and ADRs are not always predictable since aspects other than drug pharmacodynamics and/or pharmacokinetics, as well as various interacting variables contribute to the final outcome. All tissues and many functions of the oral cavity can be affected. In particular, salivary function is fre- quently involved and hypo-salivation is the main manifestation; several mucosal lesions with different morphology (ulcerations, vesiculo- bullous lesions, white lesion…

Oral manifestations in patients with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease: a single-center case-control study

OBJECTIVE: To assess the occurrence of oral pathological changes and symptoms in patients affected by gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD). PATIENTS AND METHODS: 200 patients with GERD and 100 matched healthy controls were studied. Thorough visual examination of the dental and oral mucosal tissues was performed and medical history relevant to oral symptoms was collected. The primary outcome was defined as a statistically significant difference, between the study group and controls, in the presence of the following indicators: soft/hard palate and uvula erythema, tooth wear, xerostomia, oral acid/burning sensation, subjective halitosis and dental sensitivity. Statistical analysis include…

Proceedings of the Closed Round Table and Italian Consensus on the Medication-Related Osteonecrosis of Jaws (MRONJ) at the Symposium of Italian Society of Oral Pathology and Medicine (SIPMO) Ancona, 20 October 2018 - Part I.

On 20 October 2018 a Closed Round Table brought together a wide range of stakeholders from several medical disciplines, including academic experts, dentists, oncologists, maxillo-facial surgeons, oral surgeons, radiologists, under the technical and scientific coordination of Giuseppina Campisi (for SIPMO) and Giacomo Oteri (for Italian Society of Oral Surgery- SIdCO).

P254 Survivin detection in saliva samples from patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma

Oral manifestations of eating disorders: a critical review.

Background:  Eating disorders (ED) are a group of psychopathological disorders affecting patient relationship with food and her/his own body, which manifests through distorted or chaotic eating behavior; they include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and ED not otherwise specified and may be burdened with life-threatening complications. As oral manifestations of ED can occur in many phases of disease progression, they play a significant role in assessment, characterization and prognosis of ED. Methods:  Mucosal, dental, and salivary abnormalities associated with ED have been reviewed. Relations between oral menifestations and pathogenesis, management and prognosis of ED have been critically…

Post-orthodontic position of lower incisors and gingival recession: A retrospective study

Background To evaluate if changes in lower incisor position following orthodontic treatment are correlated with development of gingival recessions. Material and methods Pre- and post-treatment digital models and lateral cephalograms of 22 subjects were collected retrospectively. The clinical crown length, gingival scallop, and papilla height of the central lower incisor were measured along with the cephalometric incisor's inclination, the distance from the mandibular plane, and the distance between the Infradentale and Menton points. Statistical correlations between gingival and cephalometric variables were studied. In addition, two groups were defined based on the post-treatment incisor in…

Diagnostic Pathways and Clinical Significance of Desquamative Gingivitis

The term desquamative gingivitis (DG) refers to a clinical manifestation that can be caused by several disorders. Many of them are immunologically mediated; in addition to the oral cavity, they can affect extraoral mucocutaneous sites, e.g., larynx, conjunctiva, esophagus, nasal and genital mucosa, and the skin. The degree of oral, periodontal, and systemic involvement determines the overall morbidity and, sometimes, the mortality of these disorders. We comprehensively review disorders commonly associated with DG and highlight diagnostic pathways, guidelines for differential diagnosis, and oral, periodontal, and systemic implications. More rare conditions are reviewed as well. Mucous membra…

Saliva variations in gastro-oesophageal reflux disease.

Abstract Objectives The protective role of saliva in the case of oesophageal exposition to gastric acid has long been studied but some contradictions still remain. The main end-point of this study was to evaluate if a qualitative and quantitative alteration in salivary secretion exists in patients affected by GERD. Methods One hundred and twenty patients (T group) with clinically and endoscopically diagnosed GERD, and 98 healthy subjects (C group) have been evaluated; salivary tests (i.e. basal flow rate, stimulated flow rate, pH, [Na + ] and [K + ]) were performed, socio-demographical variables and oral GERD-related symptoms were taken into account. SPSS 10.5 software was used for statisti…

Dentistry and internal medicine: from the focal infection theory to the periodontal medicine concept

Abstract During past decades the relationship between dentistry and internal medicine and especially the concept of the so-called focal infection theory have long been a matter of debate. The pathogenesis of focal diseases has been classically attributed to dental pulp pathologies and periapical infections. Nonetheless, in recent years, their role is being dismissed while increasing interest is being devoted to the possible associations between periodontal infection and systemic diseases. In fact, periodontal pathogens and their products, as well as inflammatory mediators produced in periodontal tissues, might enter the bloodstream, causing systemic effects and/or contributing to systemic d…

Oral lichen planus in children: An Italian case series

Oral lichen planus usually occurs in adults; there are no clear data regarding the incidence and the clinical features of oral lichen planus in children. This paper reports clinical findings, treatments, and outcomes of 13 Italian patients with oral lichen planus in childhood diagnosed between 2001 and 2021. The most common finding was keratotic lesions with reticular or papular/plaque-like patterns, confined to the tongue in seven patients. Although oral lichen planus in childhood is rare and the malignant transformation index is unknown, specialists must be aware of its characteristics and oral mucosal lesions must be correctly diagnosed and managed.

Epidemiology of desquamative gingivitis: evaluation of 125 patients and review of the literature

Background  Desquamative gingivitis (DG) is a descriptive term used to indicate epithelial desquamation, erythema, erosions, and/or vesiculobullous lesions of the gingiva. DG is commonly associated with several mucocutaneous disorders and systemic conditions that may carry a poor prognosis and high morbidity; however, there are no clear data concerning the frequency of these disease associations. Methods  We investigated the epidemiologic features of DG in 125 patients and compared our findings with information from a literature review. Results  In our series, 88% of patients with DG had one of the following three disorders: oral lichen planus (OLP), mucous membrane pemphigoid (MMP), or pem…

TIMELESS in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Systematic Review

Proceedings of the Closed Round Table and Italian Consensus on the Medication-Related Osteonecrosis of Jaws (MRONJ) at the Symposium of Italian Society of Oral Pathology and Medicine (SIPMO) Ancona, 20 October 2018 - Part II

On 20 October 2018 a Closed Round Table brought together a wide range of stakeholders from several medical disciplines, including academic experts, dentists, oncologists, maxillo-facial surgeons, oral surgeons, radiologists, under the technical and scientific coordination of Giuseppina Campisi (for SIPMO) and Giacomo Oteri (for Italian Society of Oral Surgery- SIdCO)

The Association between Tooth Loss and Alzheimer's Disease: a Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis of Case Control Studies.

Alzheimer’s disease is classified as a neurodegenerative condition, a heterogeneous group of illnesses characterized by the slow and progressive loss of one or more functions of the nervous system. Its incidence tends to increase gradually from 65 years of age, up to a prevalence of 4% at age 75. The loss of dental elements is more prevalent in this population and might negatively affect the masticatory capacity, quality of life, and pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease. This study investigated problems related to oral health and the loss of dental elements in elderly patients suffering from Alzheimer’s and considered whether local inflammatory processes could affect the et…

Fumo, alcol e salute orale

Obiettivi. Il fumo di sigaretta, seconda causa di morte nel mondo, e l’abuso di alcol, una delle principali cause di mortalità e morbilità, costituiscono importanti fattori di rischio per le patologie del cavo orale. Scopo di questo lavoro è presentare gli effetti del fumo di sigaretta e dell’abuso di alcol sulla salute orale. Sono inoltre illustrate le modalità di realizzazione di interventi di cessazione dell’abitudine al fumo nell’ambito dell’attività professionale dell’odontoiatra e dell’igienista dentale. Materiali e metodi. Attraverso la banca dati Medline/Pubmed sono stati selezionati i lavori originali, le revisioni della letteratura e le linee guida in lingua inglese e in italiano …

Necrotizing fasciitis of the face: A life-threatening condition

Necrotizing fasciitis (NF) is a highly aggressive infectious process, polymicrobial in nature, involving soft tissues with a high risk of rapid spread through superficial and deep fascial planes and muscular layers. Cervical NF is quite rare, is mostly of odontogenic origin, and may be complicated by descendant mediastinitis with a very high mortality rate. Systemic conditions impairing the patient's immune competence, such as diabetes, may play a predisposing role. An effective treatment strategy includes prompt diagnosis (clinical findings, local microbiological tests, blood culture and, if deemed necessary, histopathology), broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy as early as possible which sho…

Aging and Oral Health: Effects in Hard and Soft Tissues

Changing demographics, including an increase in life expectancy and the growing numbers of elderly has recently focused attention on the need for geriatric dental care. Ageing affects oral tissues in addition to other parts of the human body, and oral health (including oral mucosa, lips, teeth and associated structures, and their functional activity) is an integral component of general health; indeed, oral disease can cause pain, difficulty in speaking, mastication, swallowing, maintaining a balanced diet, not to mention aesthetical considerations and facial alterations leading to anxiety and depression. The World Health Organization recommends the adoption of certain strategies for improvi…

Osteoporosis, jawbones and periodontal disease

The association between osteoporosis and jawbones remains an argument of debate. Both osteoporosis and periodontal diseases are bone resorptive diseases; it has been hypothesized that osteoporosis could be a risk factor for the progression of periodontal disease and vice versa. Hypothetical models linking the two conditions exist: in particular, it is supposed that the osteoporosis-related bone mass density reduction may accelerate alveolar bone resorption caused by periodontitis, resulting in a facilitated periodontal bacteria invasion. Invading bacteria, in turn, may alter the normal homeostasis of bone tissue, increasing osteoclastic activity and reducing local and systemic bone density …

Mucoadhesive polymers for oral transmucosal drug delivery: a review.

The oral mucosa offers an interesting site for the application of dosage forms that release drugs within/throughout the oral mucosa, by assuring a high drug bioavailability for topic and systemic effects. However, the relative permeability of the oral mucosa and the washing effect related to the oral fluids and mechanical stresses must be considered in the formulation of oral dosage forms. Since a sustained drug release can be guaranteed only if dosage forms remain in contact with the oral site of absorption/application for a prolonged time, the development of mucoadhesive dosage forms is mandatory. The mucoadhesion is a complex phenomenon and the mucoadhesive bond consists of two different…

HCV infection and oral lichen planus: a weak association when HCV is endemic.

Oral lichen planus (OLP), an immune-mediated disorder, has been reported as an extra-hepatic manifestation of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, especially in HCV hyperendemic areas such as southern Europe and Japan. The aim of this study was to investigate from an epidemiological standpoint whether HCV infection is an important factor affecting the relative risk of OLP in a Mediterranean population or whether this relates to the degree of HCV endemicity. Two cohorts of OLP patients resident in two different regions of southern Italy (Campania and Sicily; n = 859) were evaluated for HCV infection status and categorized into five age classes to respective region-matched controls. No signific…

Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma on Gingiva, Edentulous Ridge, and Retromolar Pad: A Case Series

(1) Background: Gingival cancer has a significant incidence and is often diagnosed at advanced stages. The aim of this paper is to highlight its clinical aspects on the basis of a case series analysis in order to promote awareness and improve the diagnosis process. (2) Methods: Oral cancers diagnosed and treated at three Italian University Hospitals over ten years were retrospectively investigated. Cancer location on the gingiva, edentulous ridge, and retromolar pad was addressed. Data regarding clinical features, stage at the diagnosis, and time from presenting symptoms to first medical consultation were retrieved. (3) Results: Thirty-three cancers located on the gingiva, edentulous ridge,…

Periodontal clinical and microbiological data in desquamative gingivitis patients.

Objectives: A series of patients affected by desquamative gingivitis (DG) was investigated in order to evaluate relation patterns among clinical parameters relevant to plaque induced periodontitis, periodontal microbiological data and the presence of DG lesions. Patients and methods: Eight oral lichen planus (OLP) and four mucous membrane pemphigoid (MMP) patients were examined. Periodontal measurements (performed at six sites per tooth on all teeth) included probing depth (PD), gingival recession (REC), clinical attachment loss (CAL) and full mouth plaque (FMPS) and bleeding (FMBS) scores; the presence and the exact location (site by site) of DG lesions were carefully recorded. Sub-gingiva…