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ABSTRACT Background The placement of ligatures in the cervical area of rat molars is considered as a predictable model to induce periodontitis. Objectives The present explorative study aimed to compare the efficacy of metal wires (MWs), without or with sandblasting, versus silk ligatures (SLs) in inducing periodontal bone loss in rats. Materials and Methods Twenty‐four Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups of eight rats that received three different types of ligatures (MW, sandblasted wire [SMW], and SL) around their first right mandibular molar, while the contralateral tooth was left without the ligature and served as a control. Bone loss was assessed by measuring the distance from the cementoenamel junction (CEJ) to the bone crest at the distal aspect of the first molar on central mesiodistal sections generated from micro‐CT scans taken 24 and 35 days after ligature placement. Results In the SL group, only in two rats the ligatures were retained until the end of the 24‐day period; in all other animals, the ligatures were lost at some time point. In the SMW, the ligatures were retained only for the 24‐day period. In the MW group, no ligatures were lost. Irrespective of the group or experimental period, the difference in the crestal bone level between ligated and control teeth was in most cases z

Abstract Background The objective of the present survey is to assess the knowledge about the relationship between oral health and diabetes and to identify the practice behaviors of Swiss endocrinologists and general practitioners regarding oral health in diabetic patients. Methods A thirty- item questionnaire was mailed to 428 internists and 99 endocrinologists working in the French speaking part of Switzerland. Participants were asked about their awareness of the relationship between diabetes and periodontal disease, their practice behaviors as well as their willingness for an interdisciplinary education and collaboration with oral health professionals. The questions were answered according to a three-point or five-point Likert scale. Results The response rate was 23%. All participants were aware of the inflammatory and infectious nature of periodontal disease. They all agreed that good periodontal health is important for overall health. However, most of the practitioners responded that only rarely received information during their education curricula on the link between systemic and oral health or concerning periodontal problems in diabetic patients (60.9% for endocrinologists and 54.1% for general physicians); thus, only a minority of health practitioners addresses oral health care to their patients (13% and 15.3%, respectively). Both endocrinologists and general health physicians agreed that an oral health screening could be included in their practice (79% for both groups). Conclusions An interdisciplinary education and collaboration among medical and dental health providers should be established to effectively prevent, manage, and control both diabetes and periodontal disease in diabetic patients.