Most studies investigating the impact of oral contraceptives have been performed some years ago, when the level of sexual hormones was greater than the actual formulations.Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of current combined oral contraceptives (COC) on periodontal tissues, correlating the clinical parameters examined with the total duration of continuous oral contraceptive intake. Material and methods Twenty-five women (19-35 years old) taking combined oral contraceptives for at least 1 year were included in the test group. The control group was composed by 25 patients at the same age range reporting no use of hormone-based contraceptive methods. Clinical parameters investigated included pocket probing depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL), sulcular bleeding index (SBI) and plaque index (Pl.I). Data were statistically evaluated by unpaired t test, Pearson's correlation test and Spearman's correlation test. Results The test group showed increased PD (2.228±0.011 x 2.154±0.012; p<0.0001) and SBI (0.229±0.006 x 0.148±0.005, p<0.0001) than controls. No significant differences between groups were found in CAL (0.435±0.01 x 0.412±0.01; p=0.11). The control group showed greater Pl.I than the test group (0.206±0.007 x 0.303±0.008; p<0.0001). No correlation between the duration of oral contraceptive intake, age and periodontal parameters was observed. Conclusions These findings suggest that the use of currently available combined oral contraceptives can influence the periodontal conditions of the patients, independently of the level of plaque accumulation or total duration of medication intake, resulting in increased gingival inflammation.

Many techniques have been proposed for root coverage. However, none of them presents predictable results in deep and wide recessionsObjectiveThe aim of this case series report is to describe an alternative technique for root coverage at sites showing deep recessions and attachment loss >4 mm at buccal sites. Material and MethodsFour patients presenting deep recession defects at buccal sites (≥4 mm) were treated by the newly forming bone graft technique, which consists in the creation of an alveolar socket at edentulous ridge and transferring of granulation tissue present in this socket to the recession defect after 21 days. Clinical periodontal parameters, including recession depth (RD), probing depth (PD), clinical attachment level (CAL), bleeding on probing (BOP), plaque index (PI) and keratinized gingiva width (KGW) were evaluated by a single examiner immediately before surgery and at 1, 3, 6 and 9 months postoperatively. ResultsAll cases showed reduction in RD and PD, along with CAL gain, although no increase in KGW could be observed. These findings suggest that the technique could favor periodontal regeneration along with root coverage, especially in areas showing deep recessions and attachment loss.

Aos colegas de mestrado e doutorado da Reabilitação Oral e dos demais programas, por compartilharem, independentemente da intensidade, esses dois anos de intensas e gratificantes experiências odontológicas e da vida (Somos mestres!). Em especial aos companheiros do dia a dia, por me agüentarem sempre com bom humor.

Sinus lift with newly forming bone and inorganic bovine bone: a clinical, histologic and histomorphometric evaluation The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of newly forming bone graft (NFB) in the gain of bone height in sinus lift procedures. It were recruited for this study individuals 25-60 years of age, both genders, presenting a missing tooth at an upper premolar or molar region with 2-9 mm of remaining bone between alveolar ridge crest and sinus floor and the existence of an edentulous ridge or at least one tooth condemned to extraction. Sinus were treated by NFB mixed to inorganic bovine bone-IBB (test; n= 7) or IBB (control; n= 6). The volume of bone tissue was evaluated by computerized tomography obtained at baseline examination and 6 months after surgery. After this period, biopsies of hard tissue were obtained during implant installation for histologic and histomorphometric analysis. The analysis of data from tomographic images by t test showed that both materials were equally effective in the gain of bone height (test: 11.22 ± 0.60 mm vs. control: 11.82 ± 0.69 mm; p= 0.0664). The histologic analysis of tissue reaction around and between graft particles showed absence of significant differences between groups, according to Mann Whitney. Histomorphometric analysis showed greater percentage of vital bone (31.42% ± 11.13% vs. 16.38% ± 10.14%; p= 0.0002) and lower percentage of remaining particles (1.32% ± 2.34% vs. 3.15% ± 3.31%; p= 0.0306) and connective tissue (27.65% ± 12.34% vs. 35.02 ± 13.16; p= 0.0257) at test than control group. The mean diameter of remaining particles was greater at control than test group, according to t test (p= 0.0294), although no differences were observed between groups related to the area of direct contact between new bone and particles surface. These findings suggest that NFB is effective in the gain of bone height in sinus lift procedures, resulting in the formation of greater amount of vital bone with the use of IBB alone.

Background and Objective The aim of this interventional, parallel‐assignment, single‐blinded, randomized, efficacy study was to investigate the efficacy of the treatment of gingival recessions by osteogenic cell transfer. This is the first randomized clinical trial of this nature. Material and Methods Treatment of Miller class I or II gingival recessions >4 mm was randomly defined by casual sorting and performed by newly forming bone graft (NFBG) and coronally advanced flap (CAF) or subepithelial connective tissue graft (SCTG) and CAF (control). Clinical examinations were performed by a single blinded examiner at baseline and at 3, 6, and 9 months after surgery. Parameters investigated were recession height (REC), probing depth (PD), clinical attachment level, gingival bleeding index (GBI), plaque index (PlI), and keratinized gingiva width (KGW). Results Both techniques achieved similar percentage of root coverage, but NFBG was more effective in pocket depth reduction, attachment level gain, and reduction of plaque accumulation and of bleeding on probing. Conclusions These findings suggest that the transfer of osteogenic cells by NFBG is able to improve clinical attachment level and to cover denuded roots. NFBG can be used as an alternative treatment of deep recessions (≥4 mm), where the restoration of lost periodontal tissues is intended.