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Periodontology 2000 Feb 2018Dental calculus represents the first fossilized record of bacterial communities as a testimony of evolutionary biology. The development of dental calculus is a dynamic... (Review)
Review
Dental calculus represents the first fossilized record of bacterial communities as a testimony of evolutionary biology. The development of dental calculus is a dynamic process that starts with a nonmineralized biofilm which eventually calcifies. Nonmineralized dental biofilm entraps particles from the oral cavity, including large amounts of oral bacteria, human proteins, viruses and food remnants, and preserves their DNA. The process of mineralization involves metabolic activities of the bacterial colonies and strengthens the attachment of nonmineralized biofilms to the tooth surface. From a clinical point of view, dental calculus always harbors a living, nonmineralized biofilm, jeopardizing the integrity of the dento-gingival or implanto-mucosal unit. This narrative review presents a brief historical overview of dental calculus formation and its clinical relevance in modern periodontal practice.
Topics: Animals; Bacteria; Biofilms; Biological Evolution; Calcification, Physiologic; Dental Calculus; Disease Progression; Gingiva; Humans; Microbiota; Mouth; Viruses
PubMed: 29194797
DOI: 10.1111/prd.12151 -
Journal of Periodontology Oct 2021Extensive reviews on the role of scaling and root planing (SRP) in the treatment of periodontitis have been previously published. This commentary will address the... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Extensive reviews on the role of scaling and root planing (SRP) in the treatment of periodontitis have been previously published. This commentary will address the importance of subgingival calculus in the progression and treatment of periodontitis and addresses factors that make the execution of a "definitive" SRP a critical part of therapy.
METHODS
A search for articles, using keywords relevant to the subject , (e.g., periodontitis, dental scaling, root planing, dental calculus, biofilm, inflammation) was conducted using PubMed, Ovid Medline, Cochrane Reviews and the ADA Center for Evidence Based Dentistry data bases. Additionally, references cited in relevant articles were also considered.
RESULTS
Surfaces of subgingival calculus are covered with a biofilm of metabolically active bacteria. Periodontal inflammation is clearly related to the presence of calculus and biofilm. The primary goal of SRP is removal of subgingival calculus and biofilm deposits to create a biologically compatible root surface and reduce the inflammatory burden. Current evidence suggests that inflammation associated with periodontal infections affects both the immediate oral environment and the patient's systemic health.
CONCLUSION
SRP is still critical to the treatment of periodontitis. SRP involving deep probing depths (≥ 5 mm) and root surfaces with anatomical and surface irregularities, regardless of the type of instrumentation, requires time, exceptional skill and perseverance, and patient compliance with periodontal maintenance. Sites with persistent nonresponding probing depths and signs of inflammation following a definitive SRP, should be considered for surgical intervention.
Topics: Biofilms; Dental Calculus; Dental Scaling; Humans; Periodontitis; Root Planing
PubMed: 33660307
DOI: 10.1002/JPER.20-0839 -
Microbiome Jul 2019Dental calculus, calcified oral plaque biofilm, contains microbial and host biomolecules that can be used to study historic microbiome communities and host responses.... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study
BACKGROUND
Dental calculus, calcified oral plaque biofilm, contains microbial and host biomolecules that can be used to study historic microbiome communities and host responses. Dental calculus does not typically accumulate as much today as historically, and clinical oral microbiome research studies focus primarily on living dental plaque biofilm. However, plaque and calculus reflect different conditions of the oral biofilm, and the differences in microbial characteristics between the sample types have not yet been systematically explored. Here, we compare the microbial profiles of modern dental plaque, modern dental calculus, and historic dental calculus to establish expected differences between these substrates.
RESULTS
Metagenomic data was generated from modern and historic calculus samples, and dental plaque metagenomic data was downloaded from the Human Microbiome Project. Microbial composition and functional profile were assessed. Metaproteomic data was obtained from a subset of historic calculus samples. Comparisons between microbial, protein, and metabolomic profiles revealed distinct taxonomic and metabolic functional profiles between plaque, modern calculus, and historic calculus, but not between calculus collected from healthy teeth and periodontal disease-affected teeth. Species co-exclusion was related to biofilm environment. Proteomic profiling revealed that healthy tooth samples contain low levels of bacterial virulence proteins and a robust innate immune response. Correlations between proteomic and metabolomic profiles suggest co-preservation of bacterial lipid membranes and membrane-associated proteins.
CONCLUSIONS
Overall, we find that there are systematic microbial differences between plaque and calculus related to biofilm physiology, and recognizing these differences is important for accurate data interpretation in studies comparing dental plaque and calculus.
Topics: Bacteria; Bacterial Physiological Phenomena; Bacterial Proteins; Biofilms; Bone and Bones; DNA, Ancient; DNA, Bacterial; Dental Calculus; Dental Plaque; Female; History, Ancient; Humans; Male; Metagenomics; Microbiota; Periodontal Diseases; Proteomics; Tooth
PubMed: 31279340
DOI: 10.1186/s40168-019-0717-3 -
Nature Apr 2017Recent genomic data have revealed multiple interactions between Neanderthals and modern humans, but there is currently little genetic evidence regarding Neanderthal...
Recent genomic data have revealed multiple interactions between Neanderthals and modern humans, but there is currently little genetic evidence regarding Neanderthal behaviour, diet, or disease. Here we describe the shotgun-sequencing of ancient DNA from five specimens of Neanderthal calcified dental plaque (calculus) and the characterization of regional differences in Neanderthal ecology. At Spy cave, Belgium, Neanderthal diet was heavily meat based and included woolly rhinoceros and wild sheep (mouflon), characteristic of a steppe environment. In contrast, no meat was detected in the diet of Neanderthals from El Sidrón cave, Spain, and dietary components of mushrooms, pine nuts, and moss reflected forest gathering. Differences in diet were also linked to an overall shift in the oral bacterial community (microbiota) and suggested that meat consumption contributed to substantial variation within Neanderthal microbiota. Evidence for self-medication was detected in an El Sidrón Neanderthal with a dental abscess and a chronic gastrointestinal pathogen (Enterocytozoon bieneusi). Metagenomic data from this individual also contained a nearly complete genome of the archaeal commensal Methanobrevibacter oralis (10.2× depth of coverage)-the oldest draft microbial genome generated to date, at around 48,000 years old. DNA preserved within dental calculus represents a notable source of information about the behaviour and health of ancient hominin specimens, as well as a unique system that is useful for the study of long-term microbial evolution.
Topics: Animals; Belgium; Carnivory; Caves; DNA, Ancient; Dental Calculus; Diet; Enterocytozoon; Food Preferences; Genome, Bacterial; Health; History, Ancient; Humans; Intestines; Meat; Methanobrevibacter; Mouth; Neanderthals; Pan troglodytes; Penicillium; Perissodactyla; Sheep; Spain; Stomach; Symbiosis; Time Factors; Vegetarians
PubMed: 28273061
DOI: 10.1038/nature21674 -
Journal of Dentistry Dec 2016We systematically reviewed treatment modalities for MIH-affected molars and incisors. (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVES
We systematically reviewed treatment modalities for MIH-affected molars and incisors.
DATA
Trials on humans with ≥1 MIH molar/incisor reporting on various treatments were included. Two authors independently searched and extracted records. Sample-size-weighted annual failure rates were estimated where appropriate. The risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale.
SOURCES
Electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, Cochrane CENTRAL, Google Scholar) were screened, and hand searches and cross-referencing performed.
STUDY SELECTION
Fourteen (mainly observational) studies were included. Ten trials (381 participants) investigated MIH-molars, four (139) MIH-incisors. For molars, remineralization, restorative or extraction therapies had been assessed. For restorative approaches, mean (SD) annual failure rates were highest for fissure sealants (12[6]%) and glass-ionomer restorations (12[2]%), and lowest for indirect restorations (1[3]%), preformed metal crowns (1.3 [2.1]%) and composite restorations (4[3]%). Ony study assessed extraction of molars in young patients (median age 8.2 years), the majority of them without malocclusions, but third molars in development. Spontaneous alignment of second molars was more frequent in the maxilla (55%) than the mandible (47%). For incisors, desensitizing agents successfully managed hypersensitivity. Micro-abrasion and composite veneers improved aesthetics.
CONCLUSIONS
Few, mainly moderate to high-risk-studies investigated treatment of MIH. Remineralization or sealants seem suitable for MIH-molars with limited severity and/or hypersensitivity. For severe cases, restorations with composites or indirect restorations or preformed metal crowns seem suitable. Prior to tooth extraction as last resort factors like the presence of a general malocclusion, patients' age and the status of neighboring teeth should be considered. No recommendations can be given for MIH-incisors.
CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE
Dentists need to consider the specific condition of each tooth and the needs and expectations of patients when deciding how to manage MIH. Strong recommendations are not possible based on the current evidence.
Topics: Dental Calculus; Dental Enamel Hypoplasia; Humans; Incisor; Maxilla; Molar; Pit and Fissure Sealants
PubMed: 27693779
DOI: 10.1016/j.jdent.2016.09.012 -
Chemical Reviews Aug 2022Paleoproteomics, the study of ancient proteins, is a rapidly growing field at the intersection of molecular biology, paleontology, archaeology, paleoecology, and... (Review)
Review
Paleoproteomics, the study of ancient proteins, is a rapidly growing field at the intersection of molecular biology, paleontology, archaeology, paleoecology, and history. Paleoproteomics research leverages the longevity and diversity of proteins to explore fundamental questions about the past. While its origins predate the characterization of DNA, it was only with the advent of soft ionization mass spectrometry that the study of ancient proteins became truly feasible. Technological gains over the past 20 years have allowed increasing opportunities to better understand preservation, degradation, and recovery of the rich bioarchive of ancient proteins found in the archaeological and paleontological records. Growing from a handful of studies in the 1990s on individual highly abundant ancient proteins, paleoproteomics today is an expanding field with diverse applications ranging from the taxonomic identification of highly fragmented bones and shells and the phylogenetic resolution of extinct species to the exploration of past cuisines from dental calculus and pottery food crusts and the characterization of past diseases. More broadly, these studies have opened new doors in understanding past human-animal interactions, the reconstruction of past environments and environmental changes, the expansion of the hominin fossil record through large scale screening of nondiagnostic bone fragments, and the phylogenetic resolution of the vertebrate fossil record. Even with these advances, much of the ancient proteomic record still remains unexplored. Here we provide an overview of the history of the field, a summary of the major methods and applications currently in use, and a critical evaluation of current challenges. We conclude by looking to the future, for which innovative solutions and emerging technology will play an important role in enabling us to access the still unexplored "dark" proteome, allowing for a fuller understanding of the role ancient proteins can play in the interpretation of the past.
Topics: Animals; Archaeology; Fossils; Humans; Paleontology; Phylogeny; Proteome; Proteomics
PubMed: 35839101
DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.1c00703 -
Journal of Clinical Periodontology Dec 2017To assess long-term attachment and periodontitis-related tooth loss (PTL) in untreated periodontal disease over 40 years.
OBJECTIVES
To assess long-term attachment and periodontitis-related tooth loss (PTL) in untreated periodontal disease over 40 years.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
Data originated from the natural history of periodontitis study in Sri Lankan tea labourers first examined in 1970. In 2010, 75 subjects (15.6%) of the original cohort were re-examined.
RESULTS
PTL over 40 years varied between 0 and 28 teeth (mean 13.1). Four subjects presented with no PTL, while 12 were edentulous. Logistic regression revealed attachment loss as a statistically significant covariate for PTL (p < .004). Markov chain analysis showed that smoking and calculus were associated with disease initiation and that calculus, plaque, and gingivitis were associated with loss of attachment and progression to advanced disease. Mean attachment loss <1.81 mm at the age of 30 yielded highest sensitivity and specificity (0.71) to allocate subjects into a cohort with a dentition of at least 20 teeth at 60 years of age.
CONCLUSIONS
These results highlight the importance of treating early periodontitis along with smoking cessation, in those under 30 years of age. They further show that calculus removal, plaque control, and the control of gingivitis are essential in preventing disease progression, further loss of attachment and ultimately tooth loss.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Areca; Chronic Periodontitis; Dental Calculus; Dental Plaque; Disease Progression; Gingivitis; Habits; Hong Kong; Humans; Jaw, Edentulous, Partially; Logistic Models; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Markov Chains; Mouth, Edentulous; Periodontal Attachment Loss; Periodontal Diseases; Periodontal Index; Periodontitis; Risk Factors; Sensitivity and Specificity; Smoking; Smoking Cessation; Time Factors; Tooth Loss; Young Adult
PubMed: 28733997
DOI: 10.1111/jcpe.12782 -
Periodontology 2000 Feb 2018Periodontal disease is synonymous with the presence of periodontal pockets, and very often the clinical success of periodontal therapy is based on periodontal pocket... (Review)
Review
Periodontal disease is synonymous with the presence of periodontal pockets, and very often the clinical success of periodontal therapy is based on periodontal pocket depth reduction. Therefore, in the fields of periodontology and implant dentistry, significant research effort has been placed on the etiopathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of periodontal/peri-implant disease and as a consequence on pocket pathology. In this volume of Periodontology 2000, the in-depth reviews include topics ranging from preclinical models, anatomy and structure of tissues, and molecular and bacterial components, to treatments of pockets around teeth and implants. These reviews aim to provide the readers with current and future perspectives on the different areas of research into the periodontal pocket.
Topics: Dental Calculus; Dental Implantation, Endosseous; Dental Implants; Gingiva; Gingival Crevicular Fluid; Humans; Oral Hygiene; Peri-Implantitis; Periodontal Diseases; Periodontal Index; Periodontal Pocket; Tooth
PubMed: 29194794
DOI: 10.1111/prd.12203 -
Journal of Veterinary Emergency and... Nov 2022To (1) describe exposure history, clinical signs, treatment, and diagnostic findings in 4 dogs following ingestion of tamarinds, and in 2 dogs following ingestion of...
Acute kidney injury in dogs following ingestion of cream of tartar and tamarinds and the connection to tartaric acid as the proposed toxic principle in grapes and raisins.
OBJECTIVE
To (1) describe exposure history, clinical signs, treatment, and diagnostic findings in 4 dogs following ingestion of tamarinds, and in 2 dogs following ingestion of cream of tartar, and (2) discuss tartaric acid, the common denominator, as the proposed toxic principle in tamarinds and grapes.
SERIES SUMMARY
Reports in which dogs developed acute kidney injury following ingestion of cream of tartar or tamarinds were identified from the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center electronic database. In these cases, decontamination was not performed, and treatments were delayed. Despite IV fluids and symptomatic and supportive care, 2 of the dogs became anuric and 1 became oliguric. Four dogs were euthanized, and the outcome is unknown for 2 of the dogs. Necropsies were performed on 3 of the dogs. Clinical signs, laboratory findings, and histopathologic lesions were similar to those reported in grape and raisin toxicosis.
NEW OR UNIQUE INFORMATION PROVIDED
Acute kidney injury may develop following ingestion of cream of tartar or tamarinds in dogs. Connecting these reports with findings in grape and raisin toxicosis and the sensitivity to tartaric acid in dogs, tartaric acid is identified as the likely toxic component in grapes and tamarinds.
Topics: Dogs; Animals; Vitis; Tamarindus; Dental Calculus; Dog Diseases; Acute Kidney Injury; Eating
PubMed: 35869755
DOI: 10.1111/vec.13234 -
Journal of Human Evolution Feb 2015Very recently, we discovered a vast new microbial self: the human microbiome. Our native microbiota interface with our biology and culture to influence our health,...
Very recently, we discovered a vast new microbial self: the human microbiome. Our native microbiota interface with our biology and culture to influence our health, behavior, and quality of life, and yet we know very little about their origin, evolution, or ecology. With the advent of industrialization, globalization, and modern sanitation, it is intuitive that we have changed our relationship with microbes, but we have little information about the ancestral state of our microbiome, and we therefore lack a foundation for characterizing this change. High-throughput sequencing has opened up new opportunities in the field of paleomicrobiology, allowing us to investigate the evolution of the complex microbial ecologies that inhabit our bodies. By focusing on recent coprolite and dental calculus research, we explore how emerging research on ancient human microbiomes is changing the way we think about ancient disease and how archaeological studies can contribute to a medical understanding of health and nutrition today.
Topics: Dental Calculus; Diet; Feces; Health; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing; History, Ancient; Humans; Metagenomics; Microbiota; Paleontology
PubMed: 25559298
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhevol.2014.10.016