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Two sets of radiographs, taken at an interval of 4-14 years in 105 patients of a dental school, Were examined in order to determine the rate of resorption of alveolar bone The percentage loss of maximum alveolar bane height was measured in the interproximal and interradicular sites by means of the Schei ruler. The average percentage of interproximal hone resorption was CLS1 % (007 mm) per year. Age. sex,, professional status, type of periodontal treatment and general state of health did not seem to affect the annual resorption rate. However, crowned. teeth had a significantly greater rate of resorption than. uncrowned teeth. Loss of bone tended to be more rapid in interdental as compared to interradicular areas, A positive and statistically significant correlation was found between. initial resorption and annual tooth loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 17-year-old male patient with localized juvenile periodontitis was treated by subgingival instrumentation with full thickness flap on the lower molars, combined with a 3-week course of systemic tetracycline, and a programme of supervised oral hygiene. The treatment was rapidly followed by dramatic clinical and microbiological improvement. However, despite good oral hygiene, gingival inflammation recurred at regular intervals. It was necessary to maintain the clinical results by periodic subgingival instrumentation with an ultrasonic scaler. Healing of alveolar bone was monitored in the lower 1st molar regions over 3 years by using superimposable radiographs. Quantitative analysis of bone density performed with a high-resolution digitalisation technique showed a considerable improvement 1 year after therapy. However, continuous remodelling, probably related to variations in inflammation, occurred during the 3 postoperative years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

38 first or second lower molars from 16 patients showing furcation involvements of degrees 1 and 2 were treated after motivation and hygiene instruction, either by subgingival curettage, or by the modified Widman surgical procedure or by furcation plasty. The plaque index, the gingival index of inflammation and the depth of interproximal and interradicular pockets were recorded before and up to 1 year after the 3 therapeutical procedures. The above clinical indices were also followed for 2 years in 15 lower molars from 7 untreated patients. A quantitative radiographical analysis of the interradicular bone was performed in all patients, by using superposable identical radiographs and a computer-assisted photodensitometric technique. In the 3 groups of treated patients, the clinical scores were, in general, improved by the 3 therapeutic modalities. In the furcation areas, the plaque index was always higher on the lingual side. whereas the depth of "horizontal" pockets was always greater on the buccal side. Except for the lesions treated by furcation plasty, no change could be noticed clinically in the depths of vertical or horizontal penetration of a periodontal probe in the furcation areas. The quantitative radiographic analysis, however, clearly showed a loss in the first 2 mm of superficial bone during the 2 months following the 3 therapeutical procedures: this loss was followed by a statistically significant recovery and, for the group treated by curettage, even by a net gain during the 6 to 12 months following therapy. The radiographical density of the deeper layer of bone did not change in the group treated by curettage only. It showed a loss in the first 2 months following the 2 surgical procedures but a statistically significant recovery in the months thereafter. As for the group of untreated patients, at the examinations performed initially, 6 months, 1 and 2 years later, the number of plaque-free and non-bleeding sites in the furcation areas was lower on the lingual as compared to the buccal side, whereas the frequency distribution of furcation involvements was similar on both aspects. No significant changes were found in the various clinical parameters throughout the 2 years of the study. On the contrary, a significant loss of average density of the superficial layer of interradicular bone was already measured on the superposable radiographs 6 months after the initial examination and was found to increase thereafter. No changes of radiodensity could be measured for the deeper layer of bone. The statistical analysis on the relationship between probing scores and radiographical measurements failed to show any predictability between clinical probing measurements and bone loss in the furcation areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The peripheral distribution of spiramycin and metronidazole, which are combined in the proprietary drug "Rodogyl®", has been studied in gingival fluid, saliva and blood after a single administration to 12 healthy volunteers and after repeated administration to 4 patients with recurring severe periodontitis. Analysis of the 2 antibiotics have been performed at regular intervals during the 24-h period immediately following the administration to the volunteers and after the 1st and the 15th days of repeated administration to the patients. The results show that gingival fluid contains concentrations of spiramycin and metronidazole higher than those needed to inhibit the growth of periodontopathic bacteria. Spiramycin was found at higher concentrations in GCF than in blood, although this feature was not found for metronidazole, which was administered simoultaneously and showed similar concentrations in both fluid and serum. Such high concentrations persist for a long time, and suggest the potential of this compound in the treatment of severe cases of periodontitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]