Background: Periodontal complications are one of the common side effects associated with orthodontic therapy. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the periodontal changes in patients before, during, and after the therapy with a fixed orthodontic appliance. Methods: Out of 38 healthy adolescents with permanent dentition who were indicated for fixed orthodontic therapy were included in this study. Patients were selected from Class I, treated by non-extraction methods, by using conventional orthodontic braces. After their examination and treatment by an orthodontist, the patients were referred to the periodontist before the placement of a fixed orthodontic appliance. The patients underwent the application of a periodontal anamnestic-diagnostic protocol, and the clinical-radiological evaluation. After a fixed orthodontic appliance was placed, the respondents were referred to the periodontist for regular mandatory check-ups, initially, after three months, and later on-after 6 months, after 1 year and after 2 years until the end of orthodontic therapy. Results: An increase in the mean value of the Plaque Index and Sulcus Bleeding Index was found at each check-up after the placement of a fixed orthodontic appliance. There is a statistically significant difference in the presence of gingival hyperplasia found by monitoring the changes after three and six months, and after one and two years following the start of orthodontic therapy. Conclusion: The assessment of periodontal changes in patients before, during and after the completion of fixed orthodontic therapy revealed that there is a strong need for mutual and close cooperation between orthodontist and periodontist during orthodontic therapy.

Background: Dentine hypersensitivity (DH) is a frequent clinical problem that represents a long-term painful discomfort for the patients, and for the dentists, it represents a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. Objective: The aim of the research is to verify the effect of the treatment with diode laser SiroLaser Blue (660nm) of DH alone or in combination with different impregnating agents. Methods: Fifty patients were included in this research, separated into five groups. All the patients have been asked to define the level of dentine hypersensitivity using VAS (0-10). The first group was treated with Fluor Protector, the second group after the application of Fluor Protector has undergone irradiation with SiroLaser Blue (660nm), the third group was treated with impregnating agent Vivasens, the fourth group, after the application of impregnating agent Vivasens, has had SiroLaser Blue (660nm) irradiation. The fifth group has just been treated with SiroLaser Blue (660nm). The efficiency of the treatment was checked using VAS for every group immediately after the conducted treatment, after 7 days and 1 month. Results: Our results showed that all of the desensitizing agents used in the research alone or in combination with a diode laser (660nm) have shown a reduction of DH. The difference has been proven statistically significant in mean values by groups and examinations. Vivasens and diode laser irradiation have provided the best results in the review of mean values after the first examination and one month after the treatment of DH (p<0,05). In our research, the application of diode laser alone has not proven superior to other treatment methods that have been used in the research. Conclusion: Vivasens plus diode laser irradiation has provided the best results even after one month since the treatment of DH.

Introduction: Cigarette or hookah smoking, as well as alcohol consumption and abuse, are considered to be the most common etiological factors for the onset of oral cavity diseases, such as changes on the lips, tongue, stomatopyrosis, glossopyrosis, candidiasis. Aim: Research aims to determine the harmful effect of smoking the hookah as well as other harmful factors on the oral health of the student population of the Faculty of Dentistry in Sarajevo. Methods: The fourth, fifth, and sixth-year students of the Faculty of Dentistry in Sarajevo participated in this cross-sectional study. All of them are systemically healthy and consume some harmful habits: smoking cigarettes, alcohol consumption, and hookah. All students participated in the study voluntarily and they signed informed consent before the clinical examination. All the subjects gave an extensive medical history which recorded all the data on oral hygiene, harmful habits, manner and length of consumption; they were also given a clinical examination of the oral mucosa and the periodontium, as well as determining periodontal indices, and oral tests that are used for diagnostic purposes. The data is entered into work charts specially designed for these purposes. Results: The results are statistically processed in the SPSS Statistics 21.0 program and are discussed along with the results of other authors, published in relevant databases. Conclusion: The conclusion consists of important facts that originate from the results and the discussion.

Summary Background/Aim: Potentially malignant oral lesions (PMOL) are lesions that have an increased risk of malignant transformation concerning healthy oral mucosa. This research aimed to assess the knowledge of students of final years of study on the potentially malignant lesions of the oral cavity. Material and Methods: 120 students of the fourth and fifth years of study participated in this research,60 respondents were fourth-year students, 60 respondents were fifth-year students. All of the respondents signed informed consent.According to the type of research, this is a cross-sectional study which was conducted by completing a 15-item questionnaire. The results were statistically analyzed and processed in the SPSS Statistics 21.0 program. Results: The results indicate that during the clinical examination the fourth and fifth-year students examine the oral mucosa as well. 61% of the students find themselves poorly informed on the PMOL. In the fourth year of study, only 5,5% of students responded that they were well informed, while in the fifth year that number totaled 28,5%. When knowledge self-assessment is concerned the difference has shown itself to be statistically significant between the fourth and fifth-year students. When asked what knowledge on the prevention of oral cancer they expect to receive during their studies, 78% of the students expected more knowledge than at that moment – 36% of which were fifth-year students, and 42% were fourth-year students. Conclusions: Even though the oral cavity is easily accessible to examination, the discovery of oral cancer occurs quite late. Ours, as well as results of other studies, impose the need for better theoretical and practical education of the students.

ABSTRACT Laser ablation is recently suggested as a most effective and reliable technique for depigmentation of melanin hyperpigmented gingiva. To date, different lasers have been used for gingival depigmentation (CO2, diode, Nd:YAG, Er:YAG and Er,Cr:YSGG lasers). The use of Er:YAG laser for depigmentation of melanin hyperpigmented gingiva has gained increasing importance in recent years. The purpose of this study was to report removal of gingival melanin pigmentation using an Er:YAG laser in a literature review. The main outcomes, such as improvement of signs (clinical parameters of bleeding, erythema, swelling and wound healing), symptoms (pain) and melanin recurrence/repigmentation were measured. The literature demonstrated that depigmentation of gingival melanin pigmentation can be performed safely and effectively by Er:YAG laser resulting in healing and an esthetically significant improvement of gingival discoloration. Thus, Er:YAG laser seems to be safe and useful in melanin depigmentation procedure. However, the main issue in giving the final conclusion of the optimal Er:YAG laser use in melanin depigmentation is that, to date, studies are offering completely discrepant Er:YAG laser procedure protocols (complex settings of laser parameters), and different criteria for the assessment of depigmentation and repigmentation (recurrence), thus hampering the comparison of the results. Therefore, further studies are necessary to give an optimal recommendation on the use of Er:YAG laser in gingival melanin hyperpigmentation.

Introduction: One of the most important goals of periodontitis therapy is the elimination of deep periodontal pockets. In regenerative periodontal therapy, different types of bone grafts, membranes, growth factors, etc. are used to improve regeneration of lost periodontal tissue. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of surgical therapy supported by the use of bone replacement material in the treatment of deep intrabony pockets, compared to surgical treatment (flap surgery) without the use of bone replacement in advanced periodontitis. Methods and materials: The study included 50 patients of both sexes with advanced periodontitis, divided into two groups. After initial periodontal therapy was performed, plaque index (PI), papillary bleeding index (PBI) were verified, and depth of periodontal pockets was measured in both groups. One group (group 1) of the patients underwent surgical therapy, open flap surgery, while the other group (group 2) underwent the same surgical treatment method (open flap surgery), during which bone defects were filled with bone replacement material. Results: The results showed that both group 1 and group 2 experienced improvements after periodontal surgical therapy. In group 1, there are no statistically significant changes in all three plaque index measurements (PI), while there has been a significant reduction in PI in group 2 following the surgery. For the PBI index, it was determined that there were statistically significant changes in values in group 1, both after surgical procedures and six months later, as well as in group 2. Statistical analysis of the results of the probing depth of pockets has shown that there are significant changes in the measurement of the depth of periodontal pocket one month after the surgery, as well as six months later, meaning that there has been a significant reduction in the depth of the periodontal pocket one month following the surgery as well as six months later, for both groups. However, we did not determine a statistically significant difference in the probing depth of pockets between these two groups. Conclusion: Six months after a surgical therapy, clinical parameters showed a reduction of the probing depth of the periodontal pocket in both examined groups. The use of bone replacement did not yield significantly better results in reducing the depth of probing compared to the standard flap surgery. We believe that future research should focus on testing the effectiveness of new regenerative methods and materials (bone replacements with various properties, membranes, and surgical methods) that will result in better treatment results with predictable outcomes.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the importance of early diagnosis of potentially malignant lesions in the prevention of oral cancer. Material and methods: In order to achieve the set objectives, we selected our participant pool. Of the 340 patients who came to the initial examination at the Clinic for Oral Medicine and Periodontology, we selected 40 patients with potentially malignant oral lesions (PMOL) of both sexes and of different ages. After an extensive anamnesis and a clinical examination of all mucous membranes, we documented potentially malignant lesions, their localization, subjective and objective symptoms, duration of pathological lesion, and bad habits (smoking and alcohol). All lesions were colored with Toluidine blue, which indicates malignancy in 75% of cases. Patients who had a positive Toluidine blue staining test were sent to biopsy and pathohistological analysis. Results: The most common potentially malignant lesions are Lichen reticularis (25%), Lichen erosivus (20%), and Leukoplakia (15%). The most common localization of lesions is the buccal mucosa bilaterally (26%), buccal mucosa unilaterally (10%), and the lower lip (10%). The staining test with Toluidine blue was positive at 23% PMOLs. In patients with positive Toluidine staining findings, biopsy and pathohistological analysis were performed, which showed that 20% of all lesions are carcinoma (CIS, Baseocellular Carcinoma, Squamocellular Carcinoma), while 14% are mucosal epithelial dysplasia. Statistical analysis confirmed the significance of positive staining of Toluidine blue and Leukoplakia (Spearman’s coefficient = 0.427, p = 0.006, N = 40), and statistically significant positive association of Squamocellular Carcinoma and Toluidine blue staining (Spearman’s coefficient = 0.619, p = 0.000, N = 40). Conclusion: Most oral cancers are caused by potentially malignant lesions, which is why a very detailed clinical examination with the visualization of pathological lesions is very important. Toluidine blue test can be an auxiliary tool for clinical diagnosis but does not replace the pathohistological finding. Biopsy and pathohistological findings are the gold standard in the diagnosis of oral cancers, as confirmed in our research.

Introduction: Dentine hypersensitivity is characterized by acute, sharp pain arising from the exposed dentine, most commonly in response to thermal, tactile, or chemical stimuli, and which cannot be linked to any other pathological changes in the tooth or the environment. Therapy uses various impregnating agents in the form of solutions or gels and, in more recent times, laser. Aim: The aim of this research was to examine the effects of treatment of hypersensitive dental cervix with diode laser. Materials and Methods: The study included 18 patients with 82 sensitive teeth. The degree of dentine hypersensitivity was evaluated by visual analogue scale (VAS), and the treatment was carried out by application of low-power diode laser over the span of three visits, which depended on the initial sensitivity. Results: There is a significant difference in VAS values measured at the onset of treatment (baseline) and immediately after the first laser treatment (t=9.275; p=0.000), after 7 days, after the second laser treatment (14 days) (t=7.085, p=0.000), as well as after 14 days and the third laser treatment (t=5.517, p=0.000), which confirms the effectiveness of this therapeutic procedure. The results showed a reduction of hypersensitivity in response to tactile stimulus with a probe after the third treatment, even with teeth whose value on the VAS was very high at the beginning of treatment (baseline). Conclusion: Within the scope of the conducted study, laser therapy has provided extremely safe and effective results in the treatment of cervical dentine hypersensitivity.

Introduction: Periodontal disease belongs to a group of diseases with more than one cause, it is a disease of a multifactorial etiology. Although bacteria are the main cause of the disease, immunoinflammatory reaction of the host is responsible for the majority of destructive changes in periodontal tissue. The main issue in the evaluation of the success of periodontal therapy is the pluralism of the bacteria and their dynamic changes during the duration, on the one hand, and the possible inaccuracy of classical microbiological analysis in determination of the dominant role of a microorganism, or the success of its reduction or elimination, on the other. Thanks to advances of microbiology and technological development, it is possible to make an assessment of specific microorganisms in a large number of samples of sub-gingival plaque with extreme precision, using checkerboard DNA-DNA hybridization and method of polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The development of laser technology and the discovery of its significant antimicrobial effects have introduced and presented this treatment modality as a possible auxiliary method of periodontitis treatment. Materials and Methods: The sample for the study estimating the efficiency of application of diode lasers in the reduction of periodontal pockets consisted of 1164 periodontal pockets in 24 subjects of both sexes. For laser irradiation of periodontal pockets a diode laser was used, a low-power laser (SmilePro 980, Biolitec, Germany), working in a mode precisely tuned for treatment of periodontal pockets. All subjects underwent: general anamnesis, periodontal status, and orthopantogram radiograph analysis. Following a standard periodontal preparation, a sample of subgingival plaque was collected for molecular-biological analysis (real-time PCR method) prior to laser irradiation of periodontal pockets, immediately following the irradiation, and during the control examination 3 months after irradiation. Results: The results of the molecular-biological analysis of target periodontal pathogens Actinobacillus (Aggregatibacter) actinomycetemcomitans (AA) and Porphyromonas gingivalis (PG) isolated from periodontal pockets prior to laser irradiation, immediately after laser irradiation, and at the control examination after 3 months were processed statistically (using real-time PCR method). The results showed that there was a statistically significant decrease in CT values for the tested bacteria immediately after treatment and the control examination, compared with the level of CT values for the same bacteria before treatment. Conclusions: Based on the obtained results, we concluded that diode laser irradiation reduces the number of active periodontal pathogens. We believe that the use of diode lasers, as a supplementary method in the treatment of periodontal disease, is extremely useful and efficient, and can be recommended as part of standard clinical practice.

Buerger’s disease (BD) is a relatively rare thrombotic, occlusive and non-atherosclerotic clinical syndrome of unknown etiology. In recent years, numerous epidemiological studies confirmed the strong association between chronic anaerobic periodontal infection and development of cardiovascular diseases, including BD. Therefore, the aim of this study is to clarify association between periodontal pathogens and Buerger’s disease. Confirmation of presence and identification of periopathogens in patients with BD can be considered crucial in developing novel therapies for BD. Further, periodontal therapy will lead to eventual improvement of BD patients’ condition.