An indigo dye plant, Polygonum tinctorium has been shown to have anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects against pathogens causing periodontitis. In this study, the effect of Polygonum tinctorium extract on gingival inflammation was investigated in a double-blind fashion.
Thirty patients with chronic periodontitis who had received supportive periodontal therapy (SPT) were enrolled. All subjects rubbed one gram of jell including Polygonum tinctorium extract on the gingiva three times per day after each meal and oral care for ten weeks. The clinical examinations of plaque index (PlI), probing pocket depth (PPD) and bleeding score (BOP) on four subjective teeth were performed before test and after five and ten weeks. We also measured the weight of gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and TNF-α levels in the GCF at same periods.
In all the subjects, PlI and BOP tended to improve gradually regardless of the presence of Polygonum tinctorium extract. On the other hand, in subjects whose average PlI before testing was over 1.5, BOP tended to improve gradually depending on the concentrations of Polygonum tinctorium extract. Moreover, in a high-dose group, the weight of the GCF gradually decreased, and a significant decrease was observed at ten weeks compared with those in the low-dose and placebo groups. No significant differences were observed in PPD and TNF-α levels in the GCF.
These results suggested that Polygonum tinctorium extract is effective for application in poor self-brushing subjects, and may inhibit gingival inflammation.
Nihon Shishubyo Gakkai Kaishi (J Jpn Soc Periodontol) 50(3) : 167-175,2008.

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Laser irradiation at low photon intensities has a stimulating effect on cell and tissues. Although the carbon dioxide (CO₂) laser is a surgical rather than a therapeutic laser, we have attempted to use the CO₂ laser at low energy densities to obtain biological alterations. Bone sialoprotein (BSP) is a noncollagenous protein of the extracellular matrix in the mineralized connective tissues that has been implicated in the nucleation of hydroxyapatite crystals. The present study investigated the regulation of BSP transcription in a rat osteoblast-like cell line, UMR106 cells, following CO₂ laser irradiation. CO₂ laser irradiation (3 W, 20 sec) increased the BSP mRNA levels at 12 h in UMR106 cells. From transient transfection assays using various sized rat BSP promoter-luciferase constructs, the same level of CO₂ laser irradiation increased the luciferase activity of the construct (pLUC4), including the promoter sequence nucleotides -425 to +60. Transcriptional stimulations following CO₂ laser irradiation were almost completely abrogated in the constructs that included 2 bp mutations in the fibroblast growth factor 2 response element (FRE) and homeodomain protein-binding site (HOX). On the other hand, the CCAAT-protein complex did not change after stimulation by CO₂ laser according to gel shift assays. Low-intensity CO₂ laser irradiation decreased the nuclear protein binding to the 3'-FRE and HOX. These data suggest that CO₂ laser irradiation increased the BSP mRNA expression, and that the FRE and HOX elements in the promoter of the rat BSP gene are required for CO₂ laser induced BSP transcription.

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The smoking prevalence, social nicotine dependence and efficacy of anti-smoking education among 40 dental hygienists aged 21 to 57 years (36.1 (SD10.5) years) old working at a dental hospital and their families were studied using the Kano Test for Social Nicotine Dependence (KTSND). The KTSND has 10 questions with a total score of 30. The questionnaire was administered at baseline, after an initial anti-smoking education program, before and after an additional anti-smoking education program at 6 months from the baseline, and finally at 13 months after the baseline. Twenty-six of the 40 dental hygienists (37.5 (10.7) years) responded to all the five questionnaires. The subject population was composed of one ex-smoker (3.8%), 25 subjects who had never smoked (96.2%), and 9 (32.5%) subjects who inhaled second-hand smoke at home. The total KTSND score of 8.6 (5.1) decreased significantly to 3.5 (4.4) after the initial anti-smoking education program, increased to 6.0 (4.7) again before the 2nd education program at 6 months, but decreased again to 2.2 (3.0) after the 2nd education program at 6 months from the baseline, and remained low at 3.7 (4.8) until 13 months later. The decreased KTSND showed a tendency to increase with time after the initial education program, but decreased again with repeated education and thereafter persisted at a low value until at least 13 months after the baseline (baseline vs. after initial education, before and after the 2nd education program at 6 months from the baseline, and at 13 months, P < 0.01). The KTSND score of 9.3 (6.5) among the dental hygienists who inhaled second-hand smoke was higher than 8.2 (4.4) in those who did not inhale second-hand smoke at home, however, the difference was not significant. These results represent new findings suggesting that repeated anti-smoking education programs cause KTSND scores to decrease significantly and remain low for an extended period of time.
Nihon Shishubyo Gakkai Kaishi (J Jpn Soc Periodontol) 50(3):185-192,2008.

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A patient with generalized chronic periodontitis and posterior bite collapse was administered comprehensive treatment, including peiodontal surgery, dental implants and orthodontic treatment. A modified-hawley bite plane was also used to establish a proper position of the mandible. The attachment level and occlusion were well maintained for more than 3 years.
Nihon Shishubyo Gakkai Kaishi (J Jpn Soc Periodontol) 50(3) : 193-200, 2008.

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