Clinical Research Directory

The Role of Granulation Tissue in Periodontal Regeneration

The goal of this observational study is to distinguish the infectious, healing, and regeneration-related characteristics of two types of gingival granulation tissues, namely infra-osseous and supra-osseous granulation tissues, in people with severe periodontitis (gum disease). Researchers aim to denote if these tissues may play role in healing after periodontal treatment. Researchers will also compare smokers and non-smokers to see if smoking disrupts the healing potential or infectious properties of granulation tissue. Participants will provide gingival fluid (before) and granulation tissue samples (at the time of) periodontal surgery. The main questions this study aims to answer are: 1. Do infra- and supra-osseous granulation tissues have different healing potential and infectious properties? 2. How do these tissues differ in people who smoke compared to people who do not smoke?

Digital PCR for Quantifying Periodontal Pathobionts

Comparison of quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and digital polimerase chain reaction (dPCR) quantification of subgingival plaque samples.

Minimally Invasive Non Surgical Therapy Versus Conventional Scaling and Root Planing for Treatment of Periodontitis

Minimally invasive non-surgical therapy (MINST) is a new approach towards regeneration of deep periodontal defects. Important part of MINST procedure, besides usage of magnification loupes and piezo-electric devices seems to be the usage of special mini-curettes, originally mini-five and after mini-five of Hu-Friedy. So far only descriptive data about the clinical effects of such procedure are available and comparative studies that would include other treatment alternatives are lacking. Therefore, the aim of our study is, on split-mouth model, to compare the number of diseased sites (defined by probing depth ˃ 4 mm and bleeding on probing) after conventional non-surgical therapy and MINST with the usage of special mini-curettes. In addition, new 3D parameters obtained from 3D optical scanning will be developed for evaluation of volume changes of soft tissues.

Evaluation of the Impact of Periodontitis and Its Treatment on Swallowing Functions and Oral Quality of Life

The objective of this single-center prospective study is to evaluate the impact of periodontal treatment on masticatory performance in patients with periodontitis. Participants will be asked to complete several questionnaires related to their oral health and quality of life. Functional masticatory tests and salivary flow measurements will also be performed.

Effects Of Periodontal Therapy In Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Periodontitis and inflammatory bowel disease have been associated by meta-epidemiologic evidence, although their mechanistic connection needs to be further explored. Oral-gut axis is implicated in the pathogenesis of several chronic inflammatory conditions, but to date no studies have evaluated the impact of periodontal treatment on gut ecology. Thus, the present observational prospective study is aimed at investigating the effect of conventional periodontal therapy on the gut microbiome and parameters of systemic inflammation of patients diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease.

NON-SURGİCAL PERİODONTAL THERAPY WİTH L-ARGİNİNE

This study aims to investigate whether a single local application of L-arginine - a naturally occurring amino acid - into the gum pocket, in addition to standard treatment, can improve healing outcomes in patients with gum disease (periodontitis). The study is being conducted at the Faculty of Dentistry of Alanya Alaaddin Keykubat University and has received ethical approval from the Antalya Provincial Health Directorate Ethics Committee. Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease in which the tissues and bone supporting the teeth are gradually damaged by bacteria. If left untreated, it can lead to tooth loss. The current standard treatment involves deep cleaning of the tooth root surfaces to reduce the bacterial load. This study tests whether adding an L-arginine solution to this treatment provides additional benefit, as laboratory and animal studies have shown that L-arginine has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and bone-regeneration-supporting effects. Sixty volunteers aged 18-65, diagnosed with Stage III periodontitis and who have not received any periodontal treatment in the past six months, will be enrolled. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: one group will receive L-arginine solution and the other will receive saline solution (placebo) applied into the gum pocket. Gum pocket depth, inflammatory markers, and bone levels will be assessed at baseline and at 3 months after treatment. The total follow-up period for each participant will be 3 months. Participation is entirely voluntary; participants have the right to withdraw from the study at any time. No serious risks are anticipated, and all personal information will be kept strictly confidential.

Addition of Dehydrated Human Amnion-Chorion Membrane During Scaling and Root Planing

Hypothesis: There will be an additional reduction of pocket depth and gain of clinical attachment when dehydrated human amnion-chorion membrane (dHACM) is placed into the periodontal disease defect after mechanical scaling and root planing. Specific Aim 1: to compare the clinical and radiographical outcome of using dehydrated human amnion-chorion membrane (dHACM) (commercially available as BioXclude®) with mechanical scaling and root planing.

Oral Health Intervention in Adult Primary Care

This study is a Stage III cRCT to test the efficacy of multi-level interventions at the practice- and provider-level to address low dental utilization (attendance) among Medicaid-enrolled older adults 55 years or older attending non-urgent primary care visits (PCV) in MetroHealth practice settings. Twelve practices will be randomized into two arms: A) Intervention arm will receive the multi-level intervention that includes: 1. Practice-level: EHR changes to include: ask, advise, assess, and connect (AAAC) strategies; 2. Provider-level: Medical staff (MA, nurse): Training in the AAAC process and complete AAAC for enrolled older adults; Clinicians (physician/nurse practitioner): CSM-based education (didactic), skills training (video training with standardized patients), and view completed AAAC in EHR to deliver core oral health (OH) facts to older adults, reinforce importance of dental visits, and document in EHR that OH facts were delivered. B) Control arm will receive, at the provider-level only (clinicians), non-theory-based information about retaining a healthy mouth using the ADA Mouth Healthy Series and deliver standard OH care for patients. Older Adults will be followed at 12 months and 24 months to determine if the participant had any dental attendance. The primary objective is to test the efficacy of the practice level EHR strategy to ask \[OH risk assessment\], advise \[going to dentist\], assess \[willingness for referral\], and connect \[eReferral, resources\] together with clinician theory-based education to communicate OH facts versus clinician alone (standard oral health care) in increasing dental attendance in primary care settings. The secondary objectives are to assess oral hygiene behavior, Geriatric Oral Health Quality of life, biometric measures (BP, serum cholesterol, blood glucose, hbA1c) abstracted from EHR data, potential mediators and moderators to investigate pathways that affect the primary and secondary outcomes, and assess implementation strategies: adoption, reach, fidelity, and maintenance of providers and practices that affect older adult primary and secondary outcomes. The hypothesis is that medical staff completing the AAAC strategy and clinicians with improved OH knowledge (chronicity, systemic effects) will deliver consistent oral health messaging to older adults at PCVs that will result in increased preventive and restorative dental utilization compared to those providers delivering standard care.

Education-Based Oral Health Promotion Intervention During Pregnancy: Implementation Protocol in Bangladesh

In Bangladesh, over 95% of pregnant women suffer from gum disease (gingivitis or periodontitis), yet oral health is rarely included in standard pregnancy check-ups. This study tests a new "Integrated Oral Health Promotion Package" to see if teaching oral hygiene during routine prenatal visits can improve the health of mothers. Pregnant women (ages 18-45) will be divided into two groups. The intervention group will receive two face-to-face education sessions with a dental assistant, learn a specific tooth-brushing technique, and receive weekly SMS text reminders to brush their teeth. The control group will receive the standard pregnancy care currently offered in Bangladesh. Researchers will track the participants for 12 weeks to see if the education and reminders lead to better brushing habits (twice-daily) and cleaner teeth and gums compared to the standard care group.

Prevalence of Caries and Periodontal Disease and Their Correlation in a Dental School in Egypt

In Egypt, oral diseases such as caries and periodontal disease are particularly burdensome, with implications for overall health and quality of life. The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported high prevalence rates for these conditions, underscoring the urgent need for targeted research and intervention . This study focuses on understanding the burden of these diseases in a dental school setting, which serves a diverse patient population, and explores their potential interrelationship.

Regular Use of aPDT in the Management and Prevention of Periodontitis Symptoms in Diabetic Patients

This is an investigator-initiated clinical study to establish easy referral and access for diabetic patients from primary health care to oral health care facilities for preventive oral care, periodontal assessment, and treatment, and to investigate the impact of regular home use of aPDT medical device on plaque control and gingival health, when used as an adjunct treatment to standard oral hygiene, and the effect on diabetes control in patients with the risk of periodontal disease, compared to a standard home care oral hygiene regimen.

Impact of Periodontal Treatment on Local miRNA Expression

To assess the impact of Fill Mouth Scaling and Root planing or Quadrant Scaling and Root planing gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) levels of miRNA 7a-5p, miRNA 21-3p, miRNA 21-5p, miRNA 100-5p, miRNA 125-5p, miRNA 200b-3p and miRNA 200b-5p and their correlation with periodontitis extent.

Periodontal Health in Adults Treated With Fixed Orthodontic Appliances or Clear Aligners

This prospective observational study will compare the effects of fixed orthodontic appliances and clear aligners on periodontal health during the initial three months of orthodontic treatment. Thirty systemically healthy adults will be included in two groups of fifteen according to the orthodontic treatment modality received. Prior to appliance placement, all participants will undergo standardized non-surgical periodontal treatment and receive oral hygiene instructions. Periodontal parameters, including plaque accumulation, gingival inflammation, bleeding on probing, probing pocket depth, and clinical attachment level, will be assessed at baseline, following periodontal treatment, and at the third month of orthodontic therapy. Patient-reported outcomes related to oral health-related quality of life, gingival symptoms, and oral hygiene difficulty will also be evaluated. The study aims to determine whether periodontal and patient-reported outcomes differ between fixed orthodontic appliances and clear aligners during the early phase of orthodontic treatment.

New Periodontal Classification

A new classification system of periodontal and peri-implant diseases and conditions was proposed by consensus of world experts in 2017. Since then there has been ongoing debates among periodontists regarding the application of the new classification. This study aims to shed light on the current understanding of the new classification among Egyptian periodontists.

Klotho Gene, Red Complex Bacteria and Periodontal Viruses in Patients With and Without Periodontitis and Acute Coronary Syndrome

The Klotho gene was initially identified as an aging suppressor gene, but subsequent research revealed its multifaceted functions, encompassing antioxidant defense, anti-inflammatory effects, calcium and phosphorus balance, metabolic regulation, and anti-apoptotic activity. It encodes a single pass transmembrane protein and is expressed primarily in renal tubules. The Klotho protein exists in two forms: membrane-bound and secreted. Membrane Klotho acts as a co-receptor for FGF23, a bone-derived hormone, while secreted Klotho regulates various cell surface glycoproteins, including ion channels and growth factor receptors. Klotho has recently emerged as a potential biomarker for coronary heart disease, with evidence suggesting its involvement in the disease's pathophysiology. The red complex, comprising Porphyromonas gingivalis, Treponema denticola and Tannerella forsythia harbors key pathogens in adult periodontal disease. These bacteria possess various virulence factors, including fimbriae, lipopolysaccharides, and proteases in P. gingivalis, which disrupt inflammatory and immune responses and degrade connective tissue proteins. T. forsythia produces a trypsin-like protease, sialidase, hemagglutinin, and BspA, contributing to alveolar bone loss. Meanwhile, T. denticola disrupts the host cell extracellular matrix, penetrates tissue, and dysregulates immunoregulatory factors, further exacerbating periodontal disease. Similarly, Herpes Simplex Virus 1 (HSV-1), human Cytomegalovirus (HCMV) and Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of periodontal disease. The expressions of viruses along the red complex bacteria would provide further evidence of periodontal risk in progression of acute coronary artery disease.

Periodontal Status and Disease Severity in Pemphigus Vulgaris Patients

The aim of this study is to evaluate the relationship between the severity of Pemphigus Vulgaris (a chronic autoimmune skin disease) and periodontal (gum) health, and to compare the findings with those of a systemically healthy control group. Researchers will assess disease activity using the Oral Disease Severity Score (ODSS) for oral lesions and measure serum Desmoglein 1 and 3 levels through blood tests. These findings will be compared with clinical periodontal parameters, such as probing pocket depth and clinical attachment levels, in both groups. The study intends to determine how the clinical and biochemical severity of Pemphigus Vulgaris impacts periodontal tissues and overall oral health, as well as identify potential differences in periodontal status between patients with Pemphigus Vulgaris and systemically healthy individuals.

Retinal and Choroidal Changes in Periodontal Disease

Advanced PeriodontitisIn this cross-sectional study, the relationship between periodontal disease severity and retinal and choroidal structural changes was evaluated using SD-OCT. Data from a total of 80 participants were examined. It was found that choroidal thickness increased and ganglion cell layer thickness decreased as periodontal disease severity increased, while no significant relationship was found in RNFL and IPL thicknesses. The findings support a possible association between periodontal disease and ocular structural changes.

The Effect of Regular Home Use of Dual-light Antibacterial Photodynamic Therapy (aPDT) or the Use of a Powered Toothbrush in Older Individuals With Periodontitis and Mild Cognitive Impairment.

Objective: To compare three different oral hygiene regimens regarding plaque index (PI), bleeding on probing (BOP), the number of deepened periodontal pockets ≥4 mm (PPD), oral halitosis, and changes in oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in an older population with periodontitis stage I-III and mild cognitive impairment. 1. Are there improvements in plaque index (PI), number of bleeding on probing (BOP) sites, number of probing depths (PPD), and intraoral halitosis in the two test groups compared to the control group? 2. Do the study interventions affect oral health-related quality of life in older adults with periodontitis and mild cognitive impairment? Study design: Type: Randomized controlled trial Duration: 6 months per participant, 2 years in total for data collection Participants: 90 participants divided into Intervention and Control groups Intervention Group A (Lumoral Dual-Light aPDT + Manual Toothbrush) Standardized oral hygiene instructions and the use of a manual toothbrush during the test period, with an adjunctive aPDT device (Lumoral®). Intervention Group B (Oral-B iO Powered Toothbrush) Standardized oral hygiene instructions and the use of an Oral-B iO powered toothbrush during the test period. Control Group Standardized oral hygiene instructions and the use of a manual TePe Select extra soft toothbrush during the test period.

Markers of Bone Destruction and Oxidative Stress in Peri-implantitis

The aim of this study is to evaluate and compare the levels of bone resorption (RANKL, OPG) and oxidative stress (Nitrotyrosine, NQO1) markers, along with pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β), in the saliva and peri-implant sulcular fluid (PISF) of patients with peri-implantitis, periodontitis, and healthy individuals. The study seeks to determine the diagnostic value of these biomarkers in the early detection and progression of peri-implant diseases.

ORAL HYGIENE, PERIODONTAL STATUS AND QUALITY OF LIFE

This cross-sectional study aims to evaluate the relationship between oral hygiene habits, periodontal status, and oral health-related quality of life in adult individuals. A total of approximately 160 participants attending the Department of Periodontology will be included. Periodontal status will be assessed using standard clinical parameters, including probing depth, clinical attachment loss, bleeding on probing, and plaque index. In addition, the Periodontal Inflamed Surface Area (PISA) will be calculated to quantify inflammatory burden. Oral health-related quality of life will be evaluated using the OSHIP-Perio questionnaire, a validated patient-reported outcome measure specific to periodontal conditions. The study will investigate the association between clinical periodontal findings, oral hygiene practices, and quality of life outcomes. The findings are expected to provide a comprehensive understanding of both clinical and patient-centered aspects of periodontal disease and contribute to improved individualized treatment approaches.

Treatment of Intrabony Defects With Injectable Platelet-Rich Fibrin and Xenogenic Grafts

The use of injectable platelet-rich fibrin (i-PRF) in both surgical and non-surgical dental treatments has become increasingly widespread. Hard tissue grafts can produce "sticky bone," and bone gain can have a positive effect on intrabony defects frequently seen in periodontal disease, compared to grafts alone. This study aims to clinically and radiographically evaluate the effectiveness of using bovine-derived xenogenic bone grafts in combination with i-PRF and bovine-derived xenogeneic bone grafts alone in patients with intrabony defects and stage III periodontitis.

Assessment of Salivary Biomarker Levels in Individuals With Various Periodontal Diseases

The aim of this study is to compare the salivary levels of HIF-2 alpha, MMP-9, and TRAP-5b among healthy individuals, patients with gingivitis, and patients with periodontitis; to examine the relationship between these levels and clinical parameters; and to determine their effectiveness in distinguishing periodontal disease from a healthy condition. It will be evaluated whether these biochemical mediators can be used as diagnostic biomarkers in the diagnosis of periodontal disease. Periodontal health is defined as the absence of signs of inflammation. Gingivitis is an inflammation of the gums and, if left untreated, can progress to periodontitis, a more severe condition characterized by the destruction of the supporting structures of the teeth. In this destruction, the host immune response to bacterial products and various inflammatory mediators (cytokines, MMPs) play a role. MMP-9 plays a significant role in the progression of inflammation and tissue damage. HIF-2 alpha is a factor that regulates bone formation and resorption and is activated in hypoxic or inflammatory environments. TRAP-5b is a specific marker of osteoclast activity and bone resorption. In the literature, there is no study that evaluates these three biomarkers together in saliva samples in the context of periodontal disease. This study aims to investigate the changes in these salivary biomarkers in the presence of periodontal disease, their diagnostic potential, and their relationship with clinical parameters. The findings may also provide insights for future treatments targeting these cytokine pathways.

Locally Delivered Melatonin Gel in Management of Stage II Grade B Periodontitis

Background: Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by the destruction of tooth-supporting tissues, driven by an imbalance between bacterial pathogens and the host immune response. This inflammatory process leads to the excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), causing oxidative stress and tissue damage. Melatonin is a potent antioxidant and immunomodulator that scavenges free radicals and reduces inflammation. Previous research indicates that salivary and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) melatonin levels are significantly reduced in patients with periodontitis compared to healthy individuals, suggesting its potential utility as a biomarker for periodontal health. Aim: The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of 2% melatonin gel administered locally into periodontal pockets as an adjunct to subgingival instrumentation in patients with Stage II Grade B periodontitis.

Evaluation of the Effects of Levodopa-Benserazide Drug Combination on Periodontal Status in Patients With Parkinson's Disease

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of Levodopa-Benserazide drug combination on periodontal status and salivary cytokine levels in patients with Parkinson's disease. The study includes four groups: Parkinson's patients with periodontitis, periodontally healthy Parkinson's patients, participants without Parkinson's with periodontitis, and periodontally healthy participants without Parkinson's. Clinical periodontal parameters (Plaque Index, Gingival Index, Bleeding on Probing, Pocket Depth, and Clinical Attachment Loss) will be recorded. Unstimulated saliva samples will be collected to analyze the levels of TNF-alpha, RANTES, IL-10, IL-13, Total Oxidant Status (TOS), Total Antioxidant Status (TAS), and Malondialdehyde (MDA).