Search Results (89)

The involvement of oral bacteria in the pathogenesis of distant organs, such as the heart, lungs, brain, liver, and intestine, has been shown. We analyzed the distribution of bacterial species in the resected aortic valve by 16S rRNA metagenomic analysis and directly compared their gene sequences with those in the oral cavity. Thirty-two patients with aortic stenosis or aortic regurgitation who underwent aortic valve replacement were enrolled in this study. Antibody titer against periodontal pathogenic bacteria in the patient’s serum was analyzed. The genetic background and distribution of bacterial species on subgingival plaque, the dorsal surface of the tongue, and the resected aortic valve were analyzed. Patients with aortic valve disease were shown to have more severe periodontal disease by the detection of antibodies against Socransky’s red-complex bacteria of periodontitis. Bacterial DNA was detected in the aortic valves of 12 out of 32 patients. The genomic sequences of the V3-V4 region of the 16S rRNA in some bacteria isolated from the aortic valves of six patients who underwent metagenomic analysis were identical to those found in the oral cavity. The findings indicate that bacteria detected in the aortic valve may be introduced through oral dysbiosis, a condition characterized by an imbalance in the oral microbiota that increases the risk of periodontal disease and dental caries. Oral dysbiosis and the resulting potential bacteremia are associated with the pathogenesis of aortic valve diseases. Full article

Objective: The present review aims to compare the oral microbial profile (OMP) of patients undergoing fixed orthodontic therapy (OT) versus clear aligner therapy (CAT) for the treatment of malocclusions. Methods: Clinical studies were included. Case-reports/-series, letters to the editor, reviews, perspectives, and expert opinions were excluded. Indexed databases (MEDLINE/PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science) were searched up to the end point of May 2025, without time and language barriers. The study was performed in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. The risk of bias (RoB) and quality of evidence were assessed. Results: Three randomized clinical trials (RCTs) and seven non-RCTs were included. In all RCTs and five non-RCTs, OMP was assessed using subgingival plaque samples. Periodontopathogenic bacteria and Gram-negative anaerobic microbes were more often identified in patients undergoing fixed OT than CAT. The biofilm mass was higher in patients undergoing fixed OT than CAT. In two RCTs, periodontopathogenic bacteria were dominant among patients undergoing fixed OT than CAT. All RCTs and two non-RCTs had a high RoB. The certainty of evidence was “moderate” in 70% of the studies. Conclusions: Due to a high RoB, variability in study designs, and lack of power analysis, direct comparisons remain limited. Full article

One of the best restorative treatment options for large carious lesions is the placement of stainless-steel crowns (SSC), but there are few studies evaluating if there is any change in the microbiota in teeth restored with SSCs. In order to asses if any difference exists, 33 children between 4 and 10 years were studied. One primary molar restored with an SSC as well as one healthy primary molar were selected from each child. Subgingival plaque was collected with a curette and cultured on horse blood agar (Columbia) and selective and nonselective media. A quantitative analysis was performed by means of the counting of the colony-forming units per milliliter (cfu/mL) grown in the nonselective media and compared with the bacterial load measured by means of a 16S qPCR with bacterial universal primers. A descriptive statistical analysis was performed to evaluate the results. No significant differences were observed in the total 16S qPCR according to sample type. Streptococci were observed in all the studied children. Porphyromonas gingivalis was observed in 18% of patients and Prevotella intermedia in 42%. Campylobacter was observed in 81% and Neisseria in 88%. C. albicans was observed in only one patient. No significant differences were found between both groups. Part of the child population studied had anaerobic bacteria. There is no clear association between the presence of periodontopathogens and SSC. Full article

Background and Objectives: The most common method for treating malocclusions today is fixed orthodontic therapy, during which brackets and tubes are bonded to the surface of the teeth, which makes oral hygiene difficult to maintain. Increased plaque retention, gingival bleeding, and gingivitis can be diagnosed in the early phases of treatment. The periodontal response to plaque accumulation can be explained by quantitative and qualitative changes in the subgingival microbiota. The aim of our research was to investigate the changes in the subgingival microbiota that occurred within 6–8 weeks after bonding when two different orthodontic adhesives were used. Materials and Methods: Thirty patients were followed; molar tubes were bonded with a composite (C) in fifteen cases, and in the other fifteen cases, they were bonded with glass ionomer cementum (GIC). A microbiological sample was taken from the gingival sulcus of the maxillary first molars at the time of appliance placement (T1) and 6–8 weeks (T2) after bonding. Bacterial DNA detection was performed using the micro-IDent^®plus11 (Hain Lifescience GmbH, Germany) PCR (polymerase chain reaction) method. The statistical analysis included McNemar’s test to analyze the paired binary data and Fisher’s Exact Test to compare the prevalence of each of the 11 bacteria at T1 and, ultimately, T2 between the two studied groups. The Bonferroni correction was also applied. Results: When analyzing GIC vs. C at T1 and T2, none of the studied pathogens showed significant differences. Conclusions: Given the lack of statistical significance, these trends do not confirm a definitive impact of the procedure on bacterial presence. The increased presence of periodontal pathogens might suggest that bonding does not reduce the bacterial loading of subgingival microbiota. Less protective effects of the GIC intervention against Tannerella forsythia and Eubacterium nodatum bacteria were detected. Full article

Clear aligner treatment seems to be a good option for the periodontal patient by the reason of being removable. Multibracket appliances are more difficult to mantain clean and some bacteria might prefer to adhere on the archwire. A systematic review was carried out using 4 electronic databases (Pubmed-Medline, Scopus, Cochrane and Web of Science). The selected trials included quantitative (Shannon index, Simpson index, relative abundances) and/or qualitative (alpha and beta diversity) analysis in patients using clear aligners and multibracket appliances. Initially, a total of 123 articles were found after selecting clinical trials. The inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied by two authors. Finally, 20 articles were selected for the systematic review. The results showed that clear aligner treatment produced less dysbiosis in the selected bacteria compared to multibracket appliances. However, some microbiological changes were observed in some articles during clear aligner use. Oral dysibiosis was related with intestinal dysbiosis, inflammatory response and even cancer. The Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio showed to have a very important role in this development. Periodontitis is also a bacterial disease and clear aligners were recommended to periodontal risk patients. Clear aligner treatment obtained less supra and subgingival biofilm changes compared with multibracket appliances but some bacteria were altered during treatment. Full article

Background: Gingivitis and periodontitis are microbially associated diseases, with some features characteristic of pediatric age and others linked to systemic diseases. While the role of periodontal pathogenic bacteria is well recognized, the contribution of fungi and viruses, particularly Herpesviridae, remains controversial. Studies in adults have highlighted the presence of Herpesviridae, but evidence in pediatric subjects, especially systemically compromised, is limited. This systematic review aimed to assess periodontal status (e.g., health, gingivitis, periodontitis, necrotizing gingivitis, and/or periodontitis) and the subgingival and/or salivary microbial (bacterial, viral, and fungal) profile in systemically compromised pediatric (≤18 years) subjects with gingivitis and/or periodontitis compared to clinical periodontal health. Methods: The review protocol was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42024597695) and followed the PRISMA statement. Data from eight studies were descriptively analyzed and qualitatively assessed through ROBINS-I and JBI tools. Results: CMV was frequently detected, particularly in necrotizing gingivitis (19.40%). EBV was found in necrotizing gingivitis (20.69%) and periodontitis (10.34%); HSV was mainly associated with gingivitis and necrotizing gingivitis. Bacteria species in periodontitis included Porphyromonas gingivalis, Tannerella forsythia, Fusobacterium, and Campylobacter species. Candida albicans was detected in periodontitis, suggesting a fungal involvement in the disease’s pathogenesis. Although the bacterial and fungal profile was not investigated, limited viral presence was noted in subjects with healthy periodontium, indicating a stable microbiome. Conclusions: These findings underscore the dynamics of microbial interactions in the progression of periodontal disease in systemically compromised pediatric subjects. Full article

This study evaluated the microbial growth profile of subgingival multispecies biofilm on 3D-printable resin-based composites (PRBCs). A 96-well cell plate cultivated a 39-species biofilm associated with periodontitis over 7 days. Cylindrical specimens with 12 mm high and 3 mm diameters were prepared by the PRBC group (Cosmos Temp-Yller; Prizma 3D Bio Crown; Prizma 3D Bio Prov) and an acrylic resin as control. Further, these specimens were immersed in the well plate to allow biofilm formation. After growing for 7 days, the metabolic biofilm activity was evaluated by colorimetric assay and the microbial profile by DNA-DNA hybridization. Kruskal–Wallis and Mann–Whitney tests evaluated each bacteria count and complex group. A greater biofilm formation was observed on PRBC groups than on acrylic resin. The microbiological profile of PRBC was associated with a less pathogenic biofilm, with an absence of a red complex. Acrylic resin showed low biofilm growth, but the biofilm profile was related to periodontal disease, characterized by red-complex bacteria. The selection of PRBC may contribute more effectively to maintaining periodontal health than acrylic resin. Full article

The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate the effect of xanthohumol and thymol on the impact of Candida albicans on the structure, size and cell viability of subgingival biofilms formed on dental implant surfaces. The structure and microbial biomass of biofilms developed after 72 h, treated and untreated with both extracts, were compared by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and confocal laser microscopy (CLSM). Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was used to quantify the number of viable and total microorganisms of each of the biofilm-forming strains in each condition. A general linear model was used to compare and validate the CLSM and qPCR results. The presence of xanthohumol and thymol during biofilm development inhibited the filamentous growth of C. albicans. The biofilm incubated with xanthohumol had significantly lower bacterial biomass and cell viability than the biofilm not exposed to the extract (p < 0.05). In contrast, these global parameters showed no differences when the biofilm was incubated with thymol. In the presence of xanthohumol, there was a decrease in counts and cell viability of Fusobacterium nucleatum, Porphyromonas gingivalis, and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans. Thymol treatment reduced the viability of F. nucleatum and P. gingivalis. The presence of these vegetable extracts during the development of a dynamic in vitro multispecies biofilm model inhibited the filamentous growth of C. albicans, partially reversing the effect that the fungus exerted on the structure, size and vitality of periodontopathogenic bacteria. Full article

Background/Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess the microbial composition and density of subgingival plaque samples for periodontal pathogens while correlating the values with glycemic control levels via glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), a type of hemoglobin that has chemically linked glucose, in type I diabetes individuals who will undergo complex oral rehabilitation through orthodontic treatment and implant surgery. Methods: A cohort of 42 adults with type I diabetes were included in this study. The subjects sustained a comprehensive periodontal clinical examination as well as microbiological assessments of their subgingival plaque samples through quantitative real-time PCR. The samples were collected from the two deepest pockets of each subject. Results: The highest number of periodontopathogenic bacteria was observed in the pockets of 5–7 mm. T. forsythia showed the highest prevalence (20.48%), with decreasing numbers as follows: T. denticola (13.31%), P. gingivalis (11.26%), A. actinomycetemcomitans (7%), and P. intermedia (4.9%). T. denticola and T. forsythia were significantly more commonly observed in individuals with elevated HbA1c serum levels. No correlation was observed between P. gingivalis, A. actinomycetemcomitans, P. intermedia presence, and the HbA1c value. Conclusions: Periodontopathogenic agents’ presence in subgingival biofilm samples varied in accordance with the pocket probing depth and metabolic control of the diabetic individuals. In our study, the appearance of these periodontopathogenic agents was linked to lowered metabolic control in patients with type I diabetes mellitus. Full article

Porphyromonas gingivalis is the major pathogenic bacteria found in the subgingival plaque of patients with periodontitis, which leads to neuroinflammation. The bacteria destroy periodontal tissue through virulence factors, which are retained in the bacteria’s outer membrane vesicles (OMV). This study aimed to determine the real-time effect of an intraperitoneal injection of P. gingivalis OMV on the production and expression of inflammatory markers and histopathological changes in adult zebrafishes’ central nervous systems (CNS). Following the LD50 (21 µg of OMV), the zebrafish were injected intraperitoneally with 18 µg of OMVs, and the control group were injected with normal saline at seven different time points. Brains of experimental zebrafish were dissected at desired time points for colorimetric assays, ELISA, and histology. This study discovered that nitric oxide and PGE2 were significantly increased at 45 min, while IL-1β and IL-6 were expressed at subsequent 12 h and 24 h time points, respectively. Histopathological changes such as blood coagulation, astrocytosis, edema, spongiosis, and necrosis were observed between the 6hour and 24 h time points. The two apoptotic enzymes, caspases 3 and 9, were not expressed at any point. In summary, the OMV-induced neuroinflammatory responses and histopathological changes in adult zebrafish were time-point dependent. This study will enrich our understanding of the mechanism of P. gingivalis OMVs in neuroinflammation in a zebrafish model, most especially the timing of the expression of inflammatory mediators in relation to observable changes in brain tissues. Full article

Background: Periodontal disease is an inflammatory, chronic, and multifactorial disease. The objective of this study is to analyze the association between periodontal disease and some disorders such as papillomas (benign lesions), lichen planus (a chronic immune-mediated disorder), leukoplakia (potentially malignant lesions), and oral cancer (malignant lesions). Methods: For this study, 42 patients were recruited whose supragingival and subgingival plaque was qualitatively analyzed using a phase-contrast microscope, which allowed for the detection of compatible bacterial flora (immobile and composed mainly of cocci) indicative of periodontal health and incompatible bacterial flora (mobile and composed mainly of spirochetes) indicative of periodontal pathology. Patients with incompatible bacterial flora were then subjected to a laser-assisted periodontal treatment with irrigation with hydrogen peroxide within the periodontal pockets (a non-surgical laser-assisted periodontal protocol which is referred to as dye-free photodynamic therapy). Results: Based on the 42 patients recruited, there was no association between oral cavity lesions and periodontal pathogenic bacteria. Four of them were found to have incompatible bacterial flora. Indeed, it was found that almost all the patients had been previously instructed in the proper techniques of home oral hygiene, and more than half of them reported that they carried out periodic check-ups by a dental hygienist. Of the four patients with signs and symptoms of periodontitis, two stated a willingness to undergo the non-surgical laser-assisted periodontal protocol and showed improvements in periodontal indices such as CAL, PPD, and BoP. Conclusions: hygienists and dentists are determining factors in the prevention of periodontal disease and for the maintenance of good oral health. Full article

Background and Objectives: This study aims to identify types of bacterial species in women visiting obstetrics/gynecology centers in Riyadh City, Saudi Arabia, during different pregnancy trimesters. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among pregnant and nonpregnant women seeking care at Alyamamah Hospital, obstetrics/gynecology center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A total of 110 [pregnant = 90 and nonpregnant = 20] individuals were recruited based on inclusion/exclusion criteria. Personal data, plaque index (PI), and gingival index (GI) were recorded. Bacterial samples were collected using sterile absorbent paper points from the gingival sulcus of pregnant females during the first, second, and third trimesters and compared to a control group of nonpregnant females. Thioglycolate broth containing the absorbent paper points was incubated at 37 °C for 24–48 h. After growth, the microorganisms were subjected to a Gram stain. The VITEK 2 system and conventional methods were used to identify various types of bacterial species from the gingival sulcus of pregnant and nonpregnant women. Chi-square tests and nonparametric tests were applied to the data. Results: The bacterial characterization indicated that Actinomyces naeslundii (AN) was the most predominant bacteria found in the study participants, followed by Lactobacillus fermentum (LF) (23.6%), Veillonella (VL) (10%), and unidentified organisms (9.1%). When the presence of subgingival bacterial species was compared between pregnant and nonpregnant women, a statistically significant difference was observed (p < 0.001). LF was the predominant bacteria in 9 nonpregnant women (45%) and 8 pregnant women in the first pregnancy trimester (44.4%). However, during the second (17 women: 48.6%) and third pregnancy (17 women: 45.9%) trimesters, AN becomes the predominant bacteria. A statistically significant difference was observed when the prevalence of various bacterial species was compared across the three pregnancy trimesters (p = 0.010). The plaque and gingival scores of pregnant and nonpregnant women showed no significant difference. Conclusions: In different trimesters of pregnancy, pregnant women’s gingival crevices showed significant microbial changes without affecting gingival inflammation. Full article

The goal of this comprehensive review was to verify if the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori (Hp) bacteria in patients with dyspepsia is higher in the oral cavity of periodontal or non-periodontal patients. The bibliographic search was conducted on scientific studies published in PubMed, Cochrane Library, SciELO, and BVS. The focus question was: “In patients with dyspepsia and periodontitis, is the prevalence of Hp bacteria in the oral cavity higher than in patients with only dyspepsia or without any disease?” The inclusion criteria were human studies in English, Portuguese, or Spanish languages, published between 2000 and 2022, that included patients over the age of 18 and aimed to evaluate the presence of Hp bacteria in the oral cavity and in the protective mucosal layer of the gastric lining of patients with the diseases (periodontitis and dyspepsia) or without disease; clinical trials, randomized controlled clinical trials, comparative studies, case-control studies, cross-sectional studies, and cohort studies. The methodological quality evaluation of the included articles was performed using the Joanna Briggs Institute tools. The final scores could be of “Low” quality (at least two “no” [red] or ≥ five “unclear” found), “Moderate” quality (one “no” [red] was found or up to four “unclear” criteria were met), or “High” quality (all green [yes] or at maximum two “unclear”). Of 155 potentially eligible articles, 10 were included in this comprehensive review after the application of the eligibility criteria. The selected studies were scrutinized regarding the relationship between Hp colonization in the oral cavity and stomach, its impact on severity and complications of gastric infection, as well as the effect of the presence of oral and gastric Hp on dental and systemic parameters. Hp can colonize periodontal pockets regardless of its presence in the stomach. There was a higher prevalence of oral biofilm in dyspeptic patients with periodontal disease, and worse control of bleeding and low oral hygiene was observed in periodontal compared to non-periodontal patients. For que quality assessment, the scientific studies included presented low to moderate methodological quality. Conclusions: It is possible to conclude that Hp is a bacterium that can colonize dental plaque independently of the stomach and vice versa; however, when both diseases are found, its presence may be more significant. Supra and subgingival dental plaque may be a reservoir of Hp, suggesting that patients with gastric infections are more likely to have Hp in the oral cavity. The results must be carefully analyzed due to the limitations present in this review. Full article

Periodontal disease (PerioD) is a chronic inflammatory disease of dysbiotic etiology. Animal models and few human data showed a relationship between oral bacteria and gut dysbiosis. However, the effect of periodontal inflammation and subgingival dysbiosis on the gut is unknown. We hypothesized that periodontal inflammation and its associated subgingival dysbiosis contribute to gut dysbiosis even in subjects free of known gut disorders. We evaluated and compared elderly subjects with Low and High periodontal inflammation (assessed by Periodontal Inflamed Surface Area (PISA)) for stool and subgingival derived bacteria (assayed by 16S rRNA sequencing). The associations between PISA/subgingival dysbiosis and gut dysbiosis and bacteria known to produce short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) were assessed. LEfSe analysis showed that, in Low PISA, species belonging to Lactobacillus, Roseburia, and Ruminococcus taxa and Lactobacillus zeae were enriched, while species belonging to Coprococcus, Clostridiales, and Atopobium were enriched in High PISA. Regression analyses showed that PISA associated with indicators of dysbiosis in the gut mainly reduced abundance of SCFA producing bacteria (Radj = −0.38, p = 0.03). Subgingival bacterial dysbiosis also associated with reduced levels of gut SCFA producing bacteria (Radj = −0.58, p = 0.002). These results suggest that periodontal inflammation and subgingival microbiota contribute to gut bacterial changes. Full article

The most common type of periodontal disease is chronic periodontitis, an inflammatory condition caused by pathogenic bacteria in subgingival plaque. The aim of our study was the development of a real-time PCR test as a diagnostic tool for the detection and differentiation of five periodontopathogenic bacteria, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Tannerella forsythia, Prevotella intermedia, and Treponema denticola, in patients with periodontitis. We compared the results of our in-house method with the micro-IDent^® semiquantitative commercially available test based on the PCR hybridization method. DNA was isolated from subgingival plaque samples taken from 50 patients and then analyzed by both methods. Comparing the results of the two methods, they show a specificity of 100% for all bacteria. The sensitivity for A. actinomycetemcomitans was 97.5%, for P. gingivalis 96.88%, and for P. intermedia 95.24%. The sensitivity for Tannerella forsythia and T. denticola was 100%. The Spearman correlation factor of two different measurements was 0.976 for A. actinomycetemcomitans, 0.967 for P. gingivalis, 0.949 for P. intermedia, 0.966 for Tannerella forsythia, and 0.917 for T. denticola. In conclusion, the in-house real-time PCR method developed in our laboratory can provide information about relative amount of five bacterial species present in subgingival plaque in patients with periodontitis. It is likely that such a test could be used in dental diagnostics in assessing the efficacy of any treatment to reduce the bacterial burden. Full article