Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory infection in which tissue destruction is associated with an imbalance between oxidant-antioxidant systems. Melatonin is an antioxidant biomarker that has an antioxidant action. Nonsurgical treatment is one periodontal treatment method that affects etiologic factors. This study investigated salivary melatonin concentration and its changes following nonsurgical treatment in periodontal disease.

This study is a case control one where the study groups included 45 patients with periodontal disease and 15 healthy subjects selected as controls. Unstimulated saliva was collected before and after scaling and root planing. Sample was evaluated by radioimmunoassay (RIA) method. In order to analyze the data t-test, ANOVA was used. The p < 0.05 was considered significant.

Melatonin was detected in study group before nonsurgical treatment. Salivary melatonin levels in the severe periodontitis group were significantly lower than the other groups (p < 0.05). The melatonin changes were statistically significant between the groups of patients after intervention. The significant correlation between salivary melatonin with the clinical parameter was observed (p < 0.05).

Nonsurgical treatments improve clinical parameters. Salivary melatonin level has correlation with changes in clinical parameters. The melatonin production after nonsurgical treatment had correlation with severity of disease.

Hagh LG, Yousefimanesh H, Mohammadi F, Ahangarpour A. Evaluation of Nonsurgical Treatment Effects on Salivary Melatonin Level in Periodontal Disease: A Radioimmunoassay Study. World J Dent 2013;4(4):217-223.

Arambawatta K, Peiris R, Ihalagedara D, Abeysundara A, Nanayakkara D. External Root Resorption of Young Premolar Teeth in Dentition with Crowding. World J Dent 2013;4(4):224-227.

To assess the positional variations of maxillary first permanent molar in horizontal and vertical plane with respect to infrazygomatic crest (key ridge) in skeletal class I, II and III cases.

A total of 103 lateral cephalograms comprising of 40 skeletal class I (control group), 35 class II and 28 class III cases were selected and analyzed. Six parameters were chosen to compare the vertical and the horizontal variations of first permanent molars.

The angulation of maxillary first molar with respect to key ridge in class II and III was 2.42° and 6.97° as compared to class I which was 5.35°. The mesiobuccal cusp tip of maxillary first molar from key ridge in class II and III was 2.11 and 5.46 mm respectively as compared to class I (1.62 mm). The mesiobuccal root tip of maxillary first molar from key ridge in class II and III was 2.14 and 2.82 mm as compared to class I (1.27 mm).

The maxillary first molar was not directly under the infrazygomatic crest and was ahead of the key ridge in all the groups. The maxillary first permanent molar was placed more mesially in class II and III cases as compared to the class I cases but, in class III, it was more upright as compared to class I and II.

Kamble R, Hazarey A, Hazarey P, Singh J. Assessment of Positional Variation of Maxillary Permanent First Molar with respect to the Infrazygomatic Crest (Key Ridge) in Skeletal Class I, II and III Cases. World J Dent 2013;4(4):228-234.

Yui KCK, Huhtala MFRL, da Silva EG, Ramos CJ, Torres CRG, de Paiva Gongalves SE, Gomes APM. Effect of Bleaching Agents on the Sealing of Cervical Barrier in Intracoronal Bleaching Procedures. World J Dent 2013;4(4): 235-240.

To identify the morphological varieties of the soft palate on a digital lateral cephalogram in the median sagittal plane which is presented variously in normal individuals with age and gender and also to assess if there exists any morphological variations in the soft palate among cleft palate and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) groups.

A total of 120 normal subjects, 15 cleft palate patients and 15 OSA patients, whose ages ranged from 5 years and above were included. The morphology of the soft palate on lateral cephalometry was examined and classified into different types. The dimensional differences of the soft palate between the types and the differences in proportion to different age and gender groups were also studied in normal individuals, cleft palate patients and OSA patients.

The morphology of the soft palate was classified into six types with an additional ungrouped type. There was a significant increase in the length of soft palate with age. In cleft palate patients, the predominant type of soft palate was type 3 with shorter velar length, while the predominant type of soft palate in OSA patients was type 1 with the length of the soft palate longer than that of the normal group. No significant difference was observed between males and females with respect to the mean length in normal group, cleft palate group and OSA group.

Soft palate presents variable radiographic appearances on lateral cephalometry. The classic velar morphology in cleft palate and OSA patients serves as an alternative modality of investigation to identify the etiology at an earlier stage.

Deepa V, David CM, Ramnarayan BK. Morphological Varieties of Soft Palate in Normal Individuals, Cleft Palate Patients and Obstructive Sleep Apnea Patients with Reference to Indian Population: A Preliminary Digital Cephalometric Study. World J Dent 2013;4(4):241-249.

Rocha FRG, de Molon RS, Tonetto MR, Souza Pinto SC, Munoz EM, Sampaio JEC. Use of Salivary Biomarkers for Diagnosis of Periodontal Disease Activity: A Literature Review. World J Dent 2013;4(4):250-255.

During pregnancy, the prevalence and severity of gingivitis have been reported to be elevated. Studies suggest that periodontitis is associated with an increased risk of preterm birth (PTB), as well as low birth weight (LBW) and pre-eclampsia. The purpose of this meta-analysis is to determine whether the treatment of periodontal disease by mechanical debridement and oral hygiene instructions during pregnancy will reduce the incidence of PTB < 37 weeks.

Literature search was conducted for all clinical trials that related to periodontal disease and PTB from 2005 to 2012. Five were selected based no randomization technique, sample size and treatment approach. There were 2,767 patients randomly assigned to treatment group, in these trials, and 2,592 subjects randomly assigned to control group.

There were 276 (9.98%) PTBs in treatment group vs 270 (10.42%) in control group. A total of 216 (8%) LBW were seen in experimental groups and 193 (7.5%) in control group. Our results showed no significant difference in the incidence of PTB with or without received periodontal treatment during pregnancy. Risk ratio (RR) was 0.99 (95% CI: 0.74-1.33) (p = 0.97) with moderate heterogeneity 12.33. df = 4 (p = 0.02) with I2= 68%. Experimental groups showed better periodontal health after delivery.

Periodontal treatment may improve the oral health during pregnancy without affecting the pregnancy outcome however; it did not reduce the incidence of PTB and LBW. Larger meta-analysis with less heterogeneity is needed.

Alobaid AS. Effect of Periodontal Treatment on Preterm Birth Rate: Meta-analysis. World J Dent 2013;4(4):256-261.

Patil S, Rao RS, Amrutha N, Sanketh OS. Oral Microbial Flora in Health. World J Oent 2013;4(4): 262-266.

Nasution AI. Virulence Factor and Pathogenicity of Candida albicans in Oral Candidiasis. World J Dent 2013;4(4):267-271.

People with cleft lip and palate (CLP) often have problems with oral hygiene due to the difficulty of obtaining appropriate mechanical biofilm control.

To review the literature and to seek an epidemio logical profile of dental caries in individuals with CLP.

In the PubMed database and Web of Knowledge, using the keywords ‘dental caries’ and ‘cleft lip,’ 58 studies were collected, of which 13 were selected. After collection of the epidemiological data of dental caries from each paper, the age of the study subjects, the severity of dental caries (DMFT/dmft), and kappa statistics were gathered.

The cross-sectional studies totaled four papers, and there were nine case-control studies; six of them showed a more severe caries index in the case group (CLP), two studies showed the control group (without CLP) having higher caries severity, and one only paper with one age (14 years) indicated higher severity in the control group.

Overall, the rate of dental decay found in individuals with CLP was higher than among people without this condition in the studies evaluated.

Pinto ECH, Pinto EG, Soares S, Oliveira TM, Almeida ALPF, Bastos JRM, Bastos RS. A Critical Review of Dental Caries in Individuals with Cleft Lip. World J Dent 2013;4(4):272-275.

Souza Pinto SC, Tonetto MR, de Oliveira Barud HG, Porto TS, Saad JRC, Borges AH, Bandeca MC. Interactions between Restorative Dentistry and Periodontics: Surgical Procedure (Part I). World J Dent 2013;4(4):276-281.

Jain AR.A Prosthetic Alternative Treatment for Severe Anterior Ridge Defect using Fixed Removable Partial Denture Andrew's Bar System. World J Dent 2013;4(4):282-285.

Reshma V, Bavle RM, Varsha BK, Kavya BM. A Quiescent Colossal Radicular Cyst: A Diver Histological Presentation. World J Dent 2013;4(4):286-290.