Different periodontitis definitions have been used in periodontal research. This study assessed the impact of case definition on the prevalence and extent rates of periodontitis. A data set including 340 periodontal records, collected in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, was used. Periodontitis was defined as: 1) one site with probing depth (PD) >or= 4 mm; 2) clinical attachment level (CAL) >or= 5 mm in >or= 4 sites + one site with PD >or= 4 mm; 3) CAL >or= 6 mm in >or= 2 teeth + one site with PD >or= 5 mm; 4) >or= 4 teeth with >or= 1 sites with PD >or= 4 mm + CAL >or= 3 mm; 5a) interproximal CAL or PD >or= 4 mm at >or= 2 sites, not on the same tooth; and 5b) interproximal CAL of >or= 6 mm at >or= 2 sites, not on the same tooth + PD >or= 5 mm at >or= 1 proximal site. Definition 5 was determined to be the gold standard and the definitions were compared by means of agreement, sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values. Prevalence and extent rates greatly varied, from 13.8% to 65.3% and from 9.7% to 55.6%, respectively. The use of different case definitions has a great impact on the prevalence and extent rates of periodontitis.

Smoking proved to affect the quantitative distribution of LCs and DCs in patients with chronic gingivitis.

Trata-se de um estudo seccional transversal em uma comunidade da raça negra. A amostra foi constituída por 104 indivíduos acima de 13 anos de idade, sendo 63 mulheres e 41 homens. Foram examinados todos os dentes presentes, com exceção dos terceiros molares. Cada dente foi sondado em seis sítios para registrar a profundidade de sondagem e a perda de inserção e em quatro sítios para registrar sangramento após sondagem e presença de cálculo. Observou-se que, do total dos dentados, o sangramento à sondagem foi detectado em 97,9%, a profundidade de sondagem (PS) > 4mm foi observada em 43,3%, a perda de inserção (PI) > 4mm verificou-se em 63,5% e em 81,2% observou-se a presença de cálculo. De 46 a 60 anos, identificou-se uma PI de 8,3mm (±4,27), a maior média, e também PS de 4,6mm (±3,5). A doença acometeu 9,6% dos participantes em sua forma grave (PS > 7), valor dentro dos padrões conhecidos no Brasil e no mundo, não havendo um diferencial por ser um povo negro. Faixa etária, escolaridade e uso de tabaco foram indicadores de risco relacionados com a doença.

The aim of this study was to assess and compare quantitatively the presence of S100+ Langerhans cells (LC) by immunochemistry techniques in HIV+ and HIV- gingivitis and periodontitis subjects. Additionally, it aimed to evaluate the correlation among densities of these cells with CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, and viral load levels in HIV+ subjects, all using Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART). The samples were allocated into four groups: 1) 15 subjects with moderate chronic periodontitis (MCP), HIV+; 2) 15 subjects with MCP, HIV-; 3) 10 subjects with gingivitis (G), HIV+; and 4) 10 subjects with G, HIV-. The S100+ cells were assessed in the pocket epithelium, gingival epithelium, and lamina propria. A statistically significant increase of total S100+ cells in HIV+ periodontitis subjects was observed in relation to HIV- periodontitis subjects. No increase of S100+ cells with increased inflammation was observed. No statistically significant correlation among S100+ cells and blood levels of CD4, CD8, and viral load was observed. In conclusion, the use of HAART can aid in achieving viral loads, and it is suggested that it may prevent the destruction of the LC

Individuals with HIV undergoing HAART, compared with individuals without HIV, had no statistically significant differences in mast cell densities in gingival tissue.