Periodontal diseases are oral disorders characterized by inflammation of the supporting tissues of the teeth. Usually, periodontitis is a progressively destructive loss of bone and periodontal ligament (loss of the attachment apparatus of the teeth). Periodontitis has documented risk factors, including but not limited to specific plaque bacteria, smoking, and diabetes mellitus. Initially, the link between systemic disease and periodontal diseases was thought to be unidirectional. Currently, there is increasing evidence that the relationship between these entities may be bidirectional. Recent case-control and cross-sectional studies indicate that periodontitis may confer a 7-fold increase in risk for preterm low birth weight infants and a 2-fold increase in risk for cardiovascular disease. These early reports indicate the potential association between systemic and oral health. Additionally, these studies support the central hypothesis that periodontal disease involves both a local and a systemic host inflammatory response. This knowledge of disease interrelationships may prove vital in intervention strategies to reduce patient risks and prevent systemic disease outcomes. Based on the current evidence of the periodontal-systemic disease connection, the purpose of this report is to help establish the groundwork for closer communication between physicians and periodontists in the military health care setting.

The subepithelial connective tissue graft is a valuable technique used to cover exposed root surfaces or to increase the zone of attached gingiva. Cysts, such as the gingival cyst of the adult, are epithelial-lined cysts which may arise from heterotropic glandular tissue, a proliferating rete peg, remnants of the dental lamina, or traumatic implantation of epithelial tissue. In this paper, a case report is described of a "surgical cyst" or cystic morphogenesis of surgically implanted epithelium developing secondarily to a subepithelial connective tissue graft.

This substitution may be an effective and convenient method of disinfecting gypsum casts in the laboratory without adversely effecting physical and mechanical properties.

Alveolar ridge deformities are usually the result of trauma, periodontal disease, surgical insult, or developmental defects. Preventing ridge collapse with the extraction of maxillary anterior teeth is vital to an esthetic restorative result. Several techniques are available to prevent ridge collapse. In these case presentations, ridge preservation was achieved utilizing an acellular dermal matrix as a barrier membrane with a demineralized freeze-dried bone allograft. This report demonstrated an acceptable esthetic result with no loss of ridge height or width. Soft tissue dimensions were also preserved. The two graft materials were well accepted by the body and healing was rapid and without significant discomfort. The technique illustrated provides the surgeon with another option to prevent ridge collapse and ultimately improve esthetics.