Journal of periodontology
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Journal of periodontology · Nov 2010
Comparative StudyProviding care for underserved patients: periodontists' and periodontal residents' educational experiences, attitudes, and behaviors.
Patients with special health care needs (SHCNs) and patients from underrepresented minority and/or low socioeconomic backgrounds are more likely to have problems accessing oral health care services. The objectives of this study are: 1) to explore how well the dental education of periodontists prepared them to treat these underserved patients, 2) to assess related professional attitudes and confidence when treating these patients as well as professional behaviors, and 3) whether educational experiences are related with attitudes, confidence, and behaviors in this context. ⋯ The findings of this study stress the importance of preparing future periodontists in their predoctoral and graduate programs for providing care for underserved patients such as patients with SHCNs. The better that dental education prepares future periodontists to provide care for underserved patients, the more confident periodontists will be when encountering these patients in their own practices and the more likely they will be to contribute to reducing disparities in oral health care access in the United States by treating these patients.
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Journal of periodontology · Aug 2010
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyPreemptive dexamethasone and etoricoxib for pain and discomfort prevention after periodontal surgery: a double-masked, crossover, controlled clinical trial.
Several anti-inflammatory drugs have been used to reduce pain and discomfort after periodontal surgeries. This study evaluates the efficacy of using etoricoxib and dexamethasone for pain prevention after open-flap debridement surgery. ⋯ The adoption of a preemptive medication protocol using etoricoxib or dexamethasone may be considered effective for pain and discomfort prevention after open-flap debridement surgeries.
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Journal of periodontology · Jul 2010
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyComparative evaluation of topical and electronic anesthesia during scaling and root planing.
Scaling and root planing (SRP) in periodontitis is considered to be painful and thus requires anesthesia. The present study evaluates the effectiveness of a eutectic mixture of 25 mg/g lignocaine plus 25 mg/g prilocaine and thermosetting agents (EMLA), 20% lignocaine patch, and electronic dental anesthesia (EDA) during SRP. ⋯ The data suggest the topical agents used, 5% EMLA and 20% lignocaine patch, are more effective and comparable. Both are superior in performance to EDA.
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Journal of periodontology · Jul 2010
Comparative StudySerum levels of cytokines in subjects with generalized chronic and aggressive periodontitis before and after non-surgical periodontal therapy: a pilot study.
The emergence of periodontal medicine has increased interest in defining the serologic profiles of inflammatory mediators in subjects with periodontitis. Thus, the aim of this pilot study is to evaluate the serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interferon-gamma, and interleukin (IL)-4, -17, and -23 in subjects with generalized chronic periodontitis (GCP) and generalized aggressive periodontitis (GAgP) before and after non-surgical periodontal therapy. ⋯ Subjects with GAgP presented higher levels of TNF-alpha and IL-17 than subjects with GCP and PH subjects. In addition, although the serum levels of these cytokines improved significantly as a result of periodontal therapy, the levels of TNF-alpha remained higher in subjects with GAgP compared to PH subjects.
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Journal of periodontology · Jun 2009
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyThe efficacy of acetaminophen-caffeine compared to Ibuprofen in the control of postoperative pain after periodontal surgery: a crossover pilot study.
Previous studies showed that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have significant benefits in the control of pain after periodontal surgery. Acetaminophen (centrally acting NSAID) is believed to provide less analgesic efficacy than ibuprofen (centrally and peripherally acting NSAID). This study compared an alternative combination of acetaminophen, 500 mg, with caffeine, 30 mg, to ibuprofen, 400 mg, in pain management after periodontal surgeries. ⋯ Acetaminophen, 500 mg, with caffeine, 30 mg, can be used efficiently in controlling postoperative pain after open flap debridement, especially in patients with gastric ulcers or bleeding tendency because acetaminophen is less hazardous than ibuprofen.